All Nippon Airways History: ANA From Helicopters to Honu – Airline Employee Shop

All Nippon Airways History

All Nippon Airways began in 1952 as a helicopter company and grew into a major international airline and the first to fly the Boeing 787. Here's a short history of All Nippon Airways (ANA), plus the All Nippon Airways collection that celebrates it.

Helicopters to airliners (1952-1957)

ANA was founded on 27 December 1952 as Japan Helicopter and Aeroplane Transports, often called Nippon Helicopter. That early name is the source of ANA's NH airline code. Helicopter services began in February 1953, and the company was authorised to fly scheduled passenger services that October. Douglas DC-3s arrived in November 1955, and ANA's first stewardesses served on the Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka route.

All Nippon grows (1957-1985)

The company was renamed All Nippon Airways in December 1957 and merged with Far East Airlines in March 1958. Its first jet, the Boeing 727, arrived in May 1964. The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, ANA's first wide-body jet, followed in March 1974. In 1982 ANA introduced its Triton blue livery, replacing the earlier blue-and-white "Mohican" scheme.

Going international (1986-2010)

For its first three decades ANA was mainly a domestic airline. On 3 March 1986 it began scheduled international service with a route from Tokyo to Guam. ANA joined Star Alliance in October 1999.

Dreamliners and sea turtles (2011-today)

ANA was the launch customer for the Boeing 787. On 26 October 2011 it flew the first 787 passenger flight, a charter from Tokyo Narita to Hong Kong. ANA Holdings was set up as the group's holding company in April 2013. On 24 May 2019 the first of ANA's Airbus A380s, painted as a blue Hawaiian sea turtle and called the Flying Honu, began service between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu.

A few things collectors love

  • The first Pokemon Jets flew from 1998 to 2000 on domestic routes: two Boeing 767-300s and a Boeing 747-400D, with a flying Pikachu on the tail.
  • ANA's three A380 Flying Honu jets are painted as blue, green and orange sea turtles.
  • The 1993 Marine Jumbo wore a design chosen from public submissions.

Shop All Nippon Airways

Browse All Nippon Airways logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the All Nippon Airways collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for a gift any All Nippon Airways fan will enjoy.

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