Aviation

AirJapan Unveils Inaugural Products and Services

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AirJapan, the new airline brand revealed in March 2022 for medium-haul international routes under ANA HOLDINGS INC., today unveiled select products and services to be introduced on its inaugural flights.

AirJapan offers comfortable cabin space at affordable prices under the brand concept of “Fly Thoughtful” by leveraging the experience of ANA Group’s full-service and low-cost carrier businesses. AirJapan intends to begin operating flights in February 2024 and expand its network over time, focusing on destinations in Asia.

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Seats

The cabin will be configured with 324 economy-class seats made of premium Japanese faux leather, renowned for its lightweight, durable and soft texture. With a generous seat pitch of 32 inches and recline feature, the seat design will allow passengers to unwind and experience optimal comfort in flight.

AirJapan’s seat pitch of 32 inches (approx. 81 cm) is competitive to the industry standard offered by many other airlines. The wider front legroom and deeper reclining design provide passengers with a more comfortable in-flight experience.
As an added convenience for smartphone and tablet users, Type-A and Type-C USB ports and tablet holders are also provided.
The cabin interior and seats were designed by the British design company Acumen Design Associates, an award-winning product and transport design agency, renowned for its many innovations in aircraft interiors. The manufacturing was led by Safran, a world-leading supplier of quality seats to airlines worldwide.

Uniforms

AirJapan’s cabin attendant uniforms have been designed to express the brand’s “Fly Thoughtful” philosophy to value the unique qualities of our cabin attendants. The cabin attendants were involved from the earliest planning stages of the new uniforms, resulting in a design that embodies the brand’s core values of kindness to all . Notably, the uniforms have a borderless design, promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce by incorporating gender-neutral options and enabling variations in coordination.

Variations in the uniforms allow cabin attendants the flexibility to dress in their own unique way. There will be two types of bottoms- skirts and pants, and a choice of sneakers and leather shoes.
The design includes traditional Japanese cultural elements such as “knots” and “layers,” immersing passengers in Japanese culture from the first moment of boarding. The knot is represented by the brand’s color belt. In layering, a beautiful natural overlapping pattern was designed into details such as the hem of the skirt and sleeves.
As part of AirJapan’s commitment to sustainability, cabin attendant uniforms will be made in-part from plant-derived fabrics.

Boarding Music

When passengers board an AirJapan flight, they will hear music titled “Ai” with the traditional Japanese sounds of shakuhachi and koto created in collaboration with the Tokyo University of the Arts.

Inflight Meals and Drinks
AirJapan’s inflight meal service aims to create an unforgettable experience for overseas customers‘ trips to Japan with hopes they will revisit Japan in the future. At the same time, the meal service will help Japanese customers rediscover the authentic tastes of Japan and feel at home.

AirJapan will offer menus for a set fee that may be reserved online in advance, and in addition, provide meals and snacks that can be purchased onboard the flight.
The specific menu selection will be announced at the start of ticket sales.

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly