・ANA celebrated the 40th anniversary of its international scheduled flights on March 3, 2026. The airline’s international network has grown to 55 routes serving 40 cities worldwide, including recent additions such as Milan, Stockholm and Istanbul.
・The ANA Group aims to expand its international passenger and cargo business by 1.3 times by fiscal 2030, continuing to drive international operations as a primary growth driver.
・On March 3, the anniversary of its inaugural scheduled flight (the Narita-Guam route), ANA held a commemorative event at Narita Airport. Activities included a talk session with long-serving employees and a banner send-off for the day’s departing flight (Flight NH881). Also, ANA is launching various anniversary initiatives, including the sale of commemorative merchandise, special feature articles in its inflight magazine, TSUBASA GLOBAL WINGS, and a dedicated website.
ANA celebrated the 40th anniversary of its international scheduled flights on March 3. Since the inauguration of the Narita-Guam route on March 3, 1986, utilizing a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar aircraft, ANA has continued to expand its global footprint with the steadfast support of its customers. As of March 2026, the airline has added three new routes to Milan, Stockholm and Istanbul, growing its network to 55 routes serving 40 cities. As of December 2025, the cumulative number of passengers on international flights has reached approximately 170 million.
To capture global demand through a robust network, ANA aims to expand the scale of its international passenger and cargo business by 1.3 times compared to fiscal 2025 by fiscal 2030. From fiscal 2026 onwards, the airline will sequentially take delivery of Boeing 787-9 aircraft equipped with the latest seats across all classes to further elevate service quality.
Throughout its 40-year history of international operations, ANA has been recognized by third-party organizations for achieving the world’s highest standards, including the prestigious 5-Star rating from UK-based SKYTRAX for 13 consecutive years and the WORLD CLASS award from North America’s APEX for two consecutive years.
On March 3, 2026, a commemorative ceremony was held at Narita Airport Terminal 1. Preceding the ceremony, a talk session featuring employees who remember the airline’s early days reflected on the passion of the frontline staff who have supported ANA’s 40-year history. The ceremony was vibrantly accented by a traditional “Choshi Hane-Daiko” drum performance from Narita. Representing the host, Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of ANA, expressed his deep gratitude for the journey thus far.
“Forty years ago, ANA’s inaugural international flight from Narita to Guam was a bold step into the unknown for a carrier then largely unrecognized outside Japan,” said Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of ANA.
“Today, that single route has blossomed into a global network of 55 routes serving 40 cities, built on the dedication of our team and the unwavering support of our customers. Our mission to connect people and cultures has never been more vital. As we look toward the expansion of Narita Airport in 2029, this anniversary is a springboard to our next chapter. By fiscal 2030, we aim to expand our International passenger and cargo business by 1.3 times, evolving as a premier ‘combination carrier’ to deliver world-class service for the next 40 years and beyond.”
Upon the departure of Flight NH881 (Narita-Perth), employees held a banner on the ramp area to send the flight off. All passengers flying that day received a commemorative sticker, while passengers on the Perth flight were gifted a boarding certificate and an original luggage tag.
In addition to offering limited-edition products to commemorate the milestone, ANA published a special March edition of its in-flight magazine, TSUBASA GLOBAL WINGS, chronicling the airline’s 40-year journey. A dedicated website featuring archival photos and employee interviews is also now live.
The ANA Group will continue to leverage its international business as a core engine for further growth, striving to deliver exciting air travel to customers worldwide.
・40th Anniversary Commemorative Products and Special Initiatives
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・Sale of Commemorative Products
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①「PEKO for ANA」Anniversary Design Goods
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The March issue of TSUBASA GLOBAL WINGS is a special edition commemorating the anniversary. It features a message of gratitude from Inoue, a retrospective on 40 years of international flights and interviews with employees currently supporting the frontline of ANA’s international operations*. It also includes a Western Australia feature linked to Flight NH881 (Narita-Perth).
(https://www.ana.co.jp/group/40th-anniversary/)
A dedicated anniversary website is now live, showcasing the ANA Group’s 40-year history of international flights. The site features archival photographs and interview articles detailing the experiences of ANA Group employees involved in international operations.
About ANA
Founded in 1952 with just two helicopters, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has grown to become the largest airline in Japan. Today, ANA HOLDINGS Inc. (ANA HD) is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune.
ANA HD was established in 2013 as the largest airline group holding company in Japan, comprising 73
companies. It offers three distinct airline brands: ANA, Peach, the leading LCC in Japan, and AirJapan, launched in 2024 for international routes covering Asia.
ANA’s legacy of superior service has earned SKYTRAX’s 5-Star rating every year since 2013, making it the only Japanese airline to win this prestigious designation for 13 consecutive years.
In 2025, ANA was honored with FlightGlobal’s Executive Leadership: Asia-Pacific Award for its visionary leadership and strategic growth.
ANA is also a four-time recipient of the ATW Airline of the Year award, recognized for excellence in aviation.
ANA HD has been selected as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index list for eight consecutive years and the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index list for nine consecutive years.
For more information about ANA and ANA HD, please visit: https://www.ana.co.jp/group/en/
