TOKYO January 6, 2006 - ANA will retire its last Boeing 747SR-100 on March 10 this year after its final flight from the southern city of Kagoshima to Tokyo's Haneda Airport*. Entering into service in 1979, and known affectionately as the 'Super Jumbo', ANA's 747SR was the world's first aircraft to carry five hundred people in an all economy configuration.
*ANA flight 624, dep 12:15 arr 1350

ANA's first 747SR took to the skies on January 25, 1979, from Tokyo Haneda on trunk routes linking the capital to Sapporo in northern Japan and Fukuoka in the south. It became the symbol of the mass transportation age, plying the domestic skies of Japan for 27 years.

At its peak in 1989, ANA's Super Jumbo fleet comprised 23 aircraft - at the time approximately 22% of the entire fleet of 105 - however as changes in the aviation market occurred it was decided to retire the 747SR fleet in line with ANA's fleet rationalisation plan, concentrating on one aircraft type in each of the large, medium and small categories.

To celebrate the end of 27 years of faithful service, a ceremony will be held at Haneda Airport on Friday, March 10. A special 'Sayonara Super Jumbo' hotel and flight package will go on sale on January 30 via ANA's tour operator arm, ANA Sales.