Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) is upgrading its network for the winter schedule, with all eight Boeing 747-8 Freighters back in operation.

The winter schedule will start on Sunday 27 October with the Japanese airline saying the network has been optimised to better match customer requirements and enhance services.

In the USA, departures from Tokyo Narita scheduled between 14.00 and 15.00 will be pushed back to between 22.00 and 23.00 from January to extend export acceptance times.

Arrival times from Chicago to Narita will be between 07.00 and 08.00 allowing import cargo to be recovered earlier in Tokyo.

Los Angeles flights operated by Atlas Air using a Boeing 747-400 Freighter will be partially replaced by 747-8Fs operated by NCA, increasing capacity for longer pieces or wide crates.

Shanghai Pudong – Chicago flights will be launched on 27 October, operating once a week.

For European routes, the round the world Narita – Anchorage – Chicago – Frankfurt Hahn – Milan – Narita will be suspended, with some flights returning after the Chicago stop.

The last scheduled Chicago – Frankfurt Hahn flight will be on Tuesday 24 December and the last one from Hahn to Narita will operate on Wednesday 25 December.

European flights will be maintained with four flights a week on a Narita – Amsterdam – Milan – Narita route, with Frankfurt services being maintained by connections from Amsterdam.