ANA to increase Japan-China flights in FY 2008

All Nippon Airways Co. announced on Wednesday a business plan for fiscal 2008, featuring the launch of a route connecting Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Hong Kong and increased flights to other Chinese cities.

ANA will launch a daily round-trip flight between Haneda Airport and Hong Kong from April, using extended operating times for charter flights at Haneda after government deregulation.

The airline will also aim at operating regular charter flights from Haneda to Beijing's Nanyuan Airport during the 2008 Olympic Games, according to the plan.

It will increase flights from the Kansai International Airport in Osaka to Qingdao and Dalian to daily service from March and June respectively. The airline currently operates three flights and four flights per week for the respective routes.

For the domestic operations, ANA said it will close the route connecting New Chitose Airport and Nakashibetsu Airport, both in Hokkaido, at the end of March.

The route to be closed is in addition to six other routes the airline has announced it will halt due to low profitability.

The airline, meanwhile, has set up a board which will select new smaller aircraft models to be introduced, it said.

The board will pick the models by the end of March and decide on the number of the aircraft to be introduced, the airline said, adding it is expected to consider a Mitsubishi regional jet, which is currently under development by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., as one of the candidates.

The board will also study smaller aircraft manufactured by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Inc. and Brazilian jet maker Embraer S.A., according to ANA.