Air Nippon


Air Nippon Co., Ltd. was a regional airline based in the Shiodome City Center complex in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
A wholly owned subsidiary of All Nippon Airways, it mainly operated short routes and flights to isolated islands in support of ANA's domestic services. Its main base was Tokyo International Airport.

Code data

In April 2004, Air Nippon adopted ANA flight codes and numbers for all domestic services.

History

The company was founded by ANA, Japan Airlines and TOA Domestic as Nippon Kinkyori Airways in March 1974 and started operations on 10 October 1974. The name Air Nippon was adopted in 1987, and the abbreviation ANK comes from the full, somewhat redundant name Air Nippon Kabushiki kaisha.
As part of ANA's reorganisation, Air Nippon's domestic operations are being consolidated into the main airline. It had 12 Boeing 737-200 aircraft. ANA and Air Nippon used different liveries and IATA codes on domestic flights until April 2004, when Air Nippon adopted ANA livery and ANA flight numbers. As an ANA subsidiary, it is considered a full Star Alliance member. However, on Republic of China flights before April 2008, Air Nippon's IATA code EL was still used due to political reasons and these flights are not considered being Star Alliance flights.
In 1998 the airline was headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
In 2002 Air Nippon was headquartered on the 5th floor of the Utility Center Building by Tokyo International Airport in Ōta. Shiodome City Center, which became headquarters of Air Nippon and parent company ANA, opened in 2003.
The airline employed 1,686 staff. Until 2010, Air Nippon operated the wholly owned subsidiary airline Air Nippon Network operating feeder services; however, on 1 October 2010, Air Nippon Network was merged into ANA Wings.
On 1 April 2012, Air Nippon was merged to All Nippon Airways.

Destinations

Fleet

The Air Nippon fleet consisted of the following aircraft throughout operations:

AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredPassengersNotes
Airbus A320-200319922010166
Boeing 737-2001119832000126Transferred from All Nippon Airways
Boeing 737-400220002005168Transferred to Hokkaido International Airlines
Boeing 737-5002519952010126
Boeing 737-5002519952010133
Boeing 737-7001620052012120
Boeing 737-700ER22007201236Operated as ANA Business Jet
Boeing 737-700ER22007201248Operated as ANA Business Jet
Boeing 737-8001620082012167
Boeing 737-8001620082012176
Boeing 767-300ER319942010216
Bombardier Dash 8-30052001200256Transferred to Air Nippon Network
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter1974199410Transferred to Air Hokkaido
NAMC YS-1119782003Transferred from All Nippon Airways