ANA launches Tokyo Narita-San Jose service after three years of negotiations

All Nippon Airways (ANA) launched (11-Jan-2013) five times weekly Tokyo Narita-San Jose service with Boeing 787 equipment on 11-Jan-2013 - see Route Changes Table for more information. Commenting on the service, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said: "It's important to our economy, it's important to our families and it's important to our airport". San Jose Airport noted the service launch comes "after many years of discussions between ANA and a San José public-private team". Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino added, "Winning the direct flight between San Jose and Tokyo with ANA was a three-year, creative and hard-fought win... Now the real work begins - and that is ensuring that our business community stays united in promoting ANA. If ANA is successful, then we build on this success to attract other airlines and other nonstop domestic and international destinations for Mineta San Jose International Airport." ANA chairman Ohashi said the San Jose route is an important one for ANA and the carrier is hoping to attract business travellers heading to Japan and elsewhere in Asia. He commented, "We are confident that passenger demand will remain high between San Jose and Japan, as well as other Asian cities, with Tokyo as the gateway into Asia. Reservations for the route are already showing great demand and we are excited that customers will enjoy ANA's utmost service with Japanese hospitality on our innovative Dreamliner". San Jose Airport forecast that the economic impact of the new service is estimated at USD78 million in the first year of operation and the addition of 61 San Jose-based jobs. San José is the eighth largest US exporter to Japan, and this new flight facilitates even stronger growth. [more - original PR - San Jose Airport] [more - original PR - ANA]