ANA Group History

Overview of a History Spanning 60 Years

Since our founding in 1952, we have continued to provide airline services with safety as our top priority. We reached our 60th anniversary in 2012. Today, we have grown to become one of the world's top-class airline companies, with more than 42 million passengers annually. It is our goal to be the world's leading airline group in customer satisfaction and value creation.

Number of passengers since establishment

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• 1957 The results of JAPAN HELICOPTER, 100 thousand passengers
• 1962 1 million passengers
• 1963 The Jet Age
• 1969 5 million passengers
• 1972 10 million passengers
• 1974 Age of Mass Transportation
• 1978 20 million passengers
• 1986 Advance into international routes
• 1987 25 million passengers
• 1989 30 million passengers
• 1991 Deregulation and Intensifying Competition
• 1994 35 million passengers
• 1997 40 million passengers
• 2002 Entering the 21st Century
• 2004 45 million passengers

• Passenger data do not include code share flights or charter flights.
• Passenger data is for ANA only to 2003 and for the ANA Group from 2004 onward.

The Foundation of ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS Co., Ltd.(ANA)(1952-1963)

Certificate authorizing Japan Helicopter & Aeroplane Transports Co., Ltd. to operate scheduled air transportation business from October 1953.

Douglas DC-3
The mainstay aircraft of ANA's early days. This fully equipped passenger aircraft offered approximately twice the seating capacity of the previously used DH-114 Heron. ANA stewardesses (today's cabin attendants) first debuted when this aircraft began service. Service began on November 15, 1955 on the Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka route.

On December 1, 1957, the first flight schedule under the ANA name was issued. The schedule is divided into westward and eastward flights.

The Jet Age (1964-1973)

Boeing 727-100
ANA's first jet aircraft. Including the 200 stretch model, more than 1,000 of these best-selling aircraft have been in service around the world. ANA introduced a leased model on the Tokyo-Sapporo route in May 1964. This model was also put into service on the Tokyo-Osaka route in April 1965, reducing flight time to 45 minutes. The photograph shows the first Boeing 727-100 landing at Haneda Airport.

In July 1966, the Skymate service was introduced on Tokyo-Osaka flights. The service was expanded to all routes from March 1974, and the Junior Pilot Service for children flying unaccompanied began in the following year.

ANA's first international charter flight departed from Haneda Airport and flew to Hong Kong on February 21, 1971.

Age of Mass Transportation (1974-1985)

Lockheed L-1011 Tristars
ANA's first wide-body jet. Equipped with a Rolls Royce engine, the aircraft's selling points included low noise and its innovative, advanced technologies. ANA introduced 21of these jets as the main aircraft for trunk lines and major local routes and also used it on scheduled short-haul international flights from 1986. Known informally as the Tristar, it was retired from service in November 1995.

Boeing 747SR
A photograph taken at the ceremony to commemorate the receipt of a Boeing 747SR held at Boeing's Everett Factory. Introduced as ANA's first jumbo jet and informally known as the "Super Jumbo".

Test service of Sky Vision cabin service began in 1978.

Advance into international routes (1986-1989)

An event is held at Narita Airport in March 1986 for the first flight of regularly scheduled service to Guam.

Service on Tokyo-Beijing and Tokyo-Dalian-Beijing routes begins on April 16, 1987 the birthday of former ANA President Kaheita Okazaki, a tireless promoter of friendship between Japan and China. The photograph shows elementary school pupils welcoming the ANA flight at Dalian Airport (the first regularly scheduled flight to China).

On August 3, 1988, a large-scale hangar that can accommodate two jumbo jets and one medium-body aircraft was completed at ANA's international base in Narita Airport, part of a complete infrastructure for international flights.

Deregulation and Intensifying Competition (1990-1998)

Marine Jumbo and Marine Jumbo Jr., shown here parked at Airport, have flown in Japan and around the world. They are the forerunners of today's aircraft with special exterior designs.

A view of the passenger terminal at Kansai International Airport at the time of its opening. On the opening day, ANA offered service from Kansai International Airport to Singapore, Seoul and Fukuoka-Dalian-Beijing.

In June 1996, ANA became the first Japanese airline to offer full flat-bed seats in the first-class section on its international flights.

Entering the 21st Century (1999-2012)

On October 31, 1999, ANA joined the Star Alliance, one of the world's largest airline alliances. The photograph shows a Boeing 767-300 with the Star Alliance exterior design.

In October 2009, ANA started a cargo network with its Naha Airport as a hub, linking cities in Asia including Tokyo and Osaka. ANA will further promote the use of the network under the value-added strategy of its cargo operations, together with the "high-quality operation" that is the pride of the cargo department.

In April 2010, ANA introduced its new product and services brand Inspiration of Japan. ANA BUSINESS STAGGERED (in Business Class on international routes) uses an alternating seat arrangement to offer more personal space (an increase of approximately 50% compared with previous ANA seats).

Start of ANA HOLDINGS INC.(2013-)