Aviation

ANA Announces Delivery Ceremony Date for its First Airbus A380

ANA will receive its first Airbus A380 in March.

Ceremony in Toulouse, France will commemorate the next stage in ANA’s partnership with Airbus.

TOKYO, March 8, 2019 – All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and 5-star airline for six consecutive years, has announced March 20, 2019, as the delivery ceremony date for the airline’s first of three Airbus A380 aircraft. ANA will mark the plane’s departure from Toulouse and arrival at Narita Airport with ceremonial events.

“The introduction of the Airbus A380 into our lineup is something the entire team at ANA is very excited about,” said Yutaka Ito, Executive Vice President of ANA. “The A380 is one of the most advanced commercial airliners in the world, and we will hold events to mark its departure in Toulouse as well as when it lands at Narita airport.”

ANA Announces Delivery Ceremony Date for its First Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 will enter service on May 24th, flying between Narita and Honolulu. The enhanced space aboard the A380 will allow ANA to provide all passengers with a new and exciting travel experience. Reservations for this route first opened in January.

ANA A380 economy seats

ANA’s first Airbus A380 sports bold Hawaiian Sky Blue Flying Honu-inspired livery. The second A380 plane will boast Hawaiian Ocean Emerald Green livery and is expected to roll out of the Airbus Paintshop in Hamburg on March 25, 2019.

Aviation

Air India’s US Service Takes a Hit with 60 Flight Cancellations This Peak Season

Air India, owned by the Tata Group, has announced the cancellation of around 60 US-bound flights scheduled for the busy travel months of November and December.

Traditionally, airfares between India and the US climb significantly during this period, and these cancellations are anticipated to push prices even higher, impacting both non-stop and connecting routes.

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The affected flights air india new routes include those from Delhi to Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, along with flights from Mumbai to New York. Currently, Air India remains the only Indian airline offering direct services to the US.

The airline attributed the cancellations to delays in returning several aircraft from intensive maintenance, alongside supply chain issues that have temporarily reduced its operational fleet.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the airline has had to cancel a “small number” of flights due to delays from its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider.

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Additionally, some wide-body aircraft remain grounded due to technical issues, exacerbating the shortage of available aircraft.

The spokesperson added, “Due to the delayed return of some aircraft from heavy maintenance and supply chain constraints resulting in a temporary reduction in operating fleet, Air India regrets that a small number of flights have been cancelled between now and December end.”

Air India has assured affected passengers of a full refund, the option to reschedule for another date, or rebooking on nearby flights operated by the air india group, while expressing its apologies for the inconvenience caused by factors beyond its control.