ANA to launch Tokyo-Seattle route from 25-Jul-2012, 787s to be deployed on route during fiscal year

All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced (25-Apr-2012) it will launch Tokyo Narita-Seattle service earlier than planned with a start date of 25-Jul-2012. ANA in Dec-2011 said it aimed to launch the service in 2H2012 (six months to Mar-2013) although the carrier said it will now launch the route ahead of schedule in order to "capture passenger demand over the busy summer season". The route will be operated daily, initially using Boeing 777-300ER equipment, with services switching to 787 equipment during the course of the fiscal year. This will make it the first ANA service to the US to use the 787. Launching the route ahead of schedule will "further strengthen ANA's business model as a network carrier and is in line with the group's goal of accelerating its international expansion as set out in the 2012-13 Group Corporate Strategy," it said. ANA currently serves eight destinations in the US with Seattle becoming the ninth. The airline also plans to launch services from Narita to the West Coast city of San Jose during the 2012 fiscal year. ANA will be the first Japanese carrier to operate in the route in 20 years, with Japan Airlines previously operating twice weekly Tokyo Narita-Seattle-Atlanta service up until Oct-1992. [more - original PR]