HONOLULU – All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and 5-Star airline for seven consecutive years, had its inaugural flight for the A380 FLYING HONU this morning. The flight departed Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu for Narita International Airport in Tokyo, Japan. With the launch of the A380 FLYING HONU, ANA plans to double the number of seats connecting Honolulu with Tokyo by 2020.
“Since we launched service in Hawaii two decades ago, this route has been one of our most important routes,” said Shigeru Hattori, Senior Vice President of All Nippon Airways, The Americas. “In fact, it is our most popular resort route among Japanese travelers. With the growing interest in Japan among Hawaii’s travelers, we are excited to offer all travelers a unique experience that blends Japanese hospitality with a taste of the Islands.”
The first A380 FLYING HONU to take flight is the blue honu which represents the sky. The three A380 FLYING HONU aircraft are decorated with blue, green and orange sea turtles, inspired by Hawaii’s blue sky, ocean and sunset. ANA chose to name the aircraft after the honu because it is believed that those who catch a glimpse of a honu will be blessed with good fortune and prosperity.
Each aircraft offers First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class seats across two decks. In-flight menus for First Class passengers are produced in collaboration with Noe, an award-winning Italian restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina. Each menu will be overseen by the restaurant’s Michelin-starred Head Chef Ryo Takatsuka. The initial menu will be served from May 24, 2019 through the end of August 2019. Economy passengers will enjoy a special menu created in collaboration with bills Waikiki. In addition, ANA will offer an exclusive Blue Hawaii cocktail en route.
Since the Honolulu route is popular with families, ANA also enhanced services for children. For passengers who order baby or children’s meals on flights departing from Japan, ANA will provide specialty-branded silverware from “EDISONmama.” ANA tote bags and inflatable “Flying Honu” also will be available for young passengers and their families. Model planes and a HONU doll will be available for purchase en route. The aircraft also has a multi-purpose room for parents who need privacy while feeding or changing their baby.
The A380 FLYING HONU features ANA COUCHii, the very first couch seats offered by a Japanese airline. Each seat also comes with its own bedding, making it ideal for family trips. ANA COUCHii seats are available in the Economy Class section on the main deck.
As ANA launched its A380 FLYING HONU service, the airline also opened a new lounge that is now the largest lounge at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. The ANA SUITE LOUNGE and ANA LOUNGE, located above Gate C4, is designed as the ideal space for passengers and families to unwind and relax prior to departure. Passengers flying First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy on the A380 FLYING HONU can board directly from the lounge onto the upper deck.
The inspiration for the ANA SUITE LOUNGE and ANA LOUNGE draws on Japanese and Hawaiian architectural and artistic elements, prominently featuring Hawaii’s natural beauty in a tranquil, modern atmosphere. The centerpiece of the ANA LOUNGE is a sculptural dynamic of a milo tree that creates a canopy over the main dining area where passengers can enjoy local and Japanese meal options that include poke, macadamia nut fish, Hawaiian BBQ chicken, Japanese vegetable curry, shogayaki ginger fried pork and much more.
To celebrate the launch of the A380 FLYING HONU, ANA has donated 520 milo trees to the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI). The trees planted in the ANA Legacy Forest at Gunstock Ranch represent the 520 seats on each aircraft and ANA’s global commitment to sustainability.