Air Japan Takes Over HND-HNL Service

Beginning today, All Nippon Airways' Air Japan subsidiary has taken over the HND-HNL service. The flight will still be operated as ANA186/185, with ANA 787-9 DreamLiners, but with Air Japan crews.

ANA Holdings Gives Air Japan Its Own Identity

All Nippon Airways' parent company, ANA Holdings, has given their Air Japan subsidiary its own corporate identity. The Air Japan brand has existed for over 15 years, as ANA's domestic and international travel/leisure subsidiary. In the past, flights have used the NQ/AJX flight codes, but had full ANA-liveried aircraft with small Air Japan titles added to the fuselage (see above photo). Up until the China Corona Virus pandemic forced air travel to decrease, Air Japan flights to HNL were operated with ANA's 787-9s.

The new Air Japan will focus on medium-haul routes, with full service. It's not known if HNL will be part of the Air Japan route structure. However, since the re-instatement of the HND-HNL service last year, the flight is listed as an All Nippon Airways, ANA186/185.

Further information is detailed in this ANA Holdings press release. The AeroNews Global Facebook page has a post with various views of the new Air Japan livery. 

All Nippon Airways' JA873A

Finally, the Droid we were looking for showed up! JA873A (cn 34530 / ln 345) is one of three "Star Wars" themed aircraft in their fleet. R2D2 arrived this morning as NH182 from Narita, and departed this afternoon as NH185 to Haneda.

Air Japan Changes Flight Numbers

Air Japan, the All Nippon Airways subsidiary, changed the flight numbers from today. Their NRT-HNL flight is now AJX182/181 (was AJX1052/1051), and their HND-HNL flight is now AJX186/185 (was AJX 1062/1061).