TOKYO, Oct. 23, 2019 – All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest 5-Star airline for seven consecutive years, will become the first Japanese airline to offer service from Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) to Vladivostok International Airport (VVO) on March 16, 2020. This new route is part of a broad ANA strategy to increase its presence in Russia by offering service to additional cities across the country.

“ANA has long targeted Russia for expansion, and we chose Vladivostok as our first Russian destination because it serves as a gateway that connects Eurasia with the Pacific,” said Seiichi Takahashi, Senior Vice President of ANA. “At ANA, we aim to serve as a gateway for our passengers that allow them to reach new destinations and connect with new cultures. Our desire to offer unrivaled service and meet emerging passenger needs led us to begin service to Vladivostok.”

Located just two and a half hours from Tokyo, Vladivostok has become a popular tourist destination for its distinct architecture and the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside. The city is well known in Japan for its scenic streets and historic buildings, but it has also become a vital economic hub for Japan-Russia trade in recent years and as such is a common destination for business travelers. This new route is symbolic of the growing economic cooperation between Japan and Russia.

The addition of the new flight is part of ANA's dedication to offering world-class international passenger service that spans the entire globe. ANA remains committed to making travel as safe and pleasant as possible by providing new gateways, flight options and travel destinations that are in line with current demand. ANA will continue to seek out new ways to better serve customers both by expanding its reach and continually improving the passenger travel experience on existing routes.