All Nippon Airways (ANA) holds the title of Japan’s largest airline in terms of passenger numbers and revenue. It is also the only carrier from the country to have operated the Airbus A380. It presently has three superjumbos in its fleet, although the coronavirus pandemic has thrust uncertainty upon them. Let’s take a look at their current state of affairs.
ANA’s A380 fleet in a nutshell
Let’s start by establishing the nature of ANA’s small but mighty fleet of Airbus A380s. According to data from ch-aviation.com, of the three superjumbos in its fleet, the Japanese carrier received the first example in March 2019. Registered as JA381A, ATDB.aero reports that this particular superjumbo wears a ‘blue sea turtle’ livery, known as ‘Flying Honu.’
This color scheme takes its name from the Hawaiian word for sea turtle, and is also present on ANA’s other two A380s. The second example, JA382A, joined ANA in May 2019, with an emerald green version of the Flying Honu livery. JA383A is ANA’s third and final A380, and features an orange interpretation of Flying Honu, having joined in October 2020.
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Where are they now?
As has been the case for many A380 operators, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced ANA to temporarily withdraw its A380s from regular passenger-carrying service. The aircraft’s four-class, 520-seat layout is presently surplus to requirements at ANA.
As such, ch-aviation reports that all three of the carrier’s superjumbos are presently in storage. JA381A and JA382A are at ANA’s Tokyo Narita hub, with JA383A presently in Toulouse. According to ATDB.aero, the Tokyo-based planes first entered storage in the Japanese capital in March 2020. However, as we shall see, they have still found limited use.
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Pandemic usage and future plans
While ANA has assumed ownership of its third A380, the delivery has only taken place on paper. This has led to the aircraft sitting dormant in Toulouse while it awaits demand levels high enough for it to enter service in Japan. However, its first two superjumbos have seen some use despite the pandemic, with ANA adapting its A380 operations to fit the market.
Specifically, the airline has deployed the double-decker aircraft on a series of ‘flights to nowhere‘ in order to keep them active. These have included a special sunrise flight to celebrate the new year. It has also expanded the program to include two-night staycations in Japan, and departures from airports other than its Tokyo Narita hub.
While the A380’s tenure at ANA has been frustrating so far, with a lack of regular commercial service, there may yet be a light at the end of the tunnel. Indeed, Simple Flying reported in June 2021 that the airline was planning to re-introduce the superjumbo on selected Hawaii-bound flights. ANA and its passengers will hope that this becomes a regular fixture.
Have you ever flown on an ANA Airbus A380? What kind of a future do you think the superjumbo will have at the carrier in the post-pandemic airline industry? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
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