ANA unveils Japan’s first Airbus A380

December 13, 2018

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has received its first Airbus A380 has rolled out of the Airbus Paintshop in Hamburg, Germany. The new aircarft is Japan’s first Airbus A380 and sports a Hawaiian green sea turtle, known as “Honu” in the Hawaiian language, which symbolises good luck and prosperity.

Each of ANA’s three Airbus A380s will feature livery in different colors and with different designs. The blue livery of the first aircraft connects ANA’s corporate colour scheme with Hawaii’s blue skies. The second aircraft, planned to start operation in July 2019, will have emerald green livery that is inspired by the crystal clear waters of Hawaii while the third will be orange in reference to the Hawaiian sunset.

“We are excited to showcase the largest passenger aircraft and even more excited about the experience it will offer travelers on the Narita-Honolulu route,” said Yutaka Ito, executive vice president, ANA. “The Airbus A380 will be an important addition to ANA’s current fleet.”

ANA is set to receive the new A380 jet, nicknamed Flying Honu, in March 2019, with the inaugural flight scheduled to depart from Tokyo Narita Airport and travel to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on May 24, 2019.

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.