Premium Japanese carrier ANA has announced they will be introducing their super-spacious 787-9 Dreamliner on a brand new Tokyo Haneda – Sydney route on December 11th this year. Whilst this new non-stop flight is still subject to governmental approval, passengers on the ever-popular Kangaroo route will welcome the news of increased competition and enhanced products on offer.
Whilst this is ANA’s fourth International addition this year (Houston, Kuala Lumpur and Brussels also all adding to ANA’s ever expanding network) this is arguably the most exciting of all of them.
The carrier has been able to secure excellent schedules for the flight, meaning that passengers from Europe and Australia can benefit from painless connections, as well as offering a convenient schedule for anyone wanting to take a domestic flight to any of ANA’s 42 Japanese destinations.
The introduction of the 787-9 means the carrier is wanting to attract premium passengers, and whilst the carrier hasn’t an aircraft featuring their luxurious First Class Suites on the Sydney route, ANA’s 787-9 is one of the least populated versions in the skies, featuring only 215 seats.
For passengers in the pointy end, expect 48 of ANA’s signature fully flat seats. In premium economy there is an incredibly intimate cabin of just 21 seats with generous leg-room and ample premium amenities. In economy, there are just 146 seats. Japanese carriers notoriously offer some of the best service levels in the skies and with such a small economy cabin, expect enhanced service levels in every cabin, making this the aircraft of choice, especially for those searching for the cheapest fares.
However, those lucky few travelling in the front of the Dreamliner will also be able to gain access to the recently expanded ANA Suite Lounge and ANA Lounge when travelling to Tokyo’s most convenient and heralded airport.
Osamu Shinobe, President and CEO of ANA, said, “We are thrilled to be expanding our footprint in Oceania and offering our passengers additional options and convenient connections through Haneda Airport. Our most comfortable seating and the optimized in-cabin humidity and air pressure of Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner should be especially good news for overnight travelers.”
Considering how popular Hakuba and Niseko are to Australian winter sport fans, the good news is that passengers in all cabins are able to take advantage of ANA’s special ‘Experience Japan’ fare, which costs only JPY10,800.
We are thrilled at this news. ANA is still (luckily for us) a relatively well kept secret to both Europe and Australia, however their Skytrax 5-star rating is well deserved and we would echo the sentiment, as they truly offer one of the best airline experiences in the skies.
TheDesignAir 