After a long wait of exactly two years, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has put its third and last Airbus A380 into service.
The aircraft registration JA383A performed the Tokyo-Honolulu flight on October 20, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the air link.
Named “FLYING HONU”, the A380 displays the playful sea turtle livery that was adopted on all three aircraft, a tribute to the animal native to Hawaii.
The JA383A, however, uses shades of orange while the first A380 (JA381A) was painted in blue and the JA382A in a shade of blue-green.
“ANA deeply values the privilege of furthering an enduring connection between Japan and Hawaii. Air travel catalyzes uniting individuals and fostering cultural exchange. ANA remains resolutely committed to building a robust partnership with Hawaii, ensuring mutual growth and prosperity for the next 25 years and beyond ,” said Toshio Nomura, ANA The Americas, Executive Vice President.
The delay in putting the third A380 into service was caused by the slow recovery in passenger demand. ANA was the final customer to order the double-deck jet and received the first two planes in March and May 2019.
The JA383A, in turn, was only delivered on October 16, 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced ANA to keep it stored with Airbus.
A curious fact about ANA’s A380s is that they fly exclusively between Tokyo and Hawaii, configured with 520 seats in four classes – eight seats in First Class, 56 in Business Class, 73 in Premium Economy and 383 in Economy.
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Starting in December, All Nippon said it will operate three daily flights between the two cities, two from Narita Airport and one from Haneda.
