On March 3rd, ANA celebrated the 40th anniversary of its international scheduled flights. Since the inauguration of the Narita-Guam route on March 3, 1986, utilizing a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar aircraft, ANA has continued to expand its global footprint with the steadfast support of its customers.
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On March 3rd, a commemorative ceremony was held at Narita Airport Terminal 1. Preceding the ceremony, a talk session featuring employees who remember the airline’s early days reflected on the passion of the frontline staff who have supported ANA’s 40-year history. The ceremony was vibrantly accented by a traditional “Choshi Hane-Daiko” drum performance from Narita.
Upon the departure of flight NH881 (Narita-Perth), employees held a banner on the ramp area to send the flight off. All passengers flying that day received a commemorative sticker, while passengers on the Perth flight were gifted a boarding certificate and an original luggage tag.
Representing the host, Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of ANA, expressed his deep gratitude for the journey thus far. “40 years ago, ANA’s inaugural international flight from Narita to Guam was a bold step into the unknown for a carrier then largely unrecognized outside Japan,” said Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of ANA. “Today, that single route has blossomed into a global network of 55 routes serving 40 cities, built on the dedication of our team and the unwavering support of our customers. Our mission to connect people and cultures has never been more vital. As we look toward the expansion of Narita Airport in 2029, this anniversary is a springboard to our next chapter. By fiscal 2030, we aim to expand our International passenger and cargo business by 1.3 times, evolving as a premier ‘combination carrier’ to deliver world-class service for the next 40 years and beyond.”
As of March 2026, the airline has added 3 new routes to Milan, Stockholm and Istanbul, growing its network to 55 routes serving 40 cities. As of December 2025, the cumulative number of passengers on international flights has reached approximately 170 million.
To capture global demand through a robust network, ANA aims to expand the scale of its international passenger and cargo business by 1.3 times compared to fiscal 2025 by fiscal 2030. From fiscal 2026 onwards, the airline will sequentially take delivery of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with the latest seats across all classes.
Throughout its 40-year history of international operations, ANA has been recognized by third-party organizations for achieving the world’s highest standards, including the prestigious 5-Star rating from UK-based SKYTRAX for 13 consecutive years and the WORLD CLASS award from North America’s APEX for two consecutive years.
