TokyoTomo Travel Guide

All Nippon Airways (NH) announces the launch of newly refurbished Boeing B777-300ER to be operated on the Tokyo-New York route from 20th February 2010. The new brand concept “Inspiration of Japan” will be introduced for this type of aircraft with 212 seat configuration (35 seats less than the current configuration). The new seat has been improved its livability by expanding seat pitch in each cabin. For instance, partitions around individual seats at the First Class will be made taller to enhance “personalized” space, and full-flat seats will be introduced at the Business Class to add 50% more room by arranging seats in staggered layout, and it will be accessible to aisle from any seat.

Also for the Premium Economy and Economy seats will be designed to prevent disturbing passengers behind when reclined, and seat pitches will be enlarged approx. 10 cm more at the Premium Economy, and approx. 7.5 cm more at the Economy Class. TV monitor screens will also be improved to 23 inches at the First Class (8 inches larger than the current type), and 10.6 inches at the Economy Class (4 inches larger than the current type). Moreover, at the First and Business Class cabins, heated water ‘washlets’ or bidet-toilets will be installed. It would be the first model in the aviation industry.

The configuration of each class has 8 First Class seats (currently 8), 68 Business Class seats (currently 77), 24 Premium Economy seats (currently 24), 112 Economy Class seats (currently 138). It will account for 3 points decrease at the Economy Class, but on the other hand, 1.6 points increase at the Premium Economy Class, 0.9 points increase at the Business Class, and 0.5 points increase at the First Class. It shows their strategy to place a great deal of weight on the premium classes.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) will start launching its new products and services under the new brand concept “Inspiration of Japan,” starting from February 2010. With the mottos “Innovative,” “Unique” and “Modern Japan,” the airline endeavors to renew its products and services such as new passenger seats, in-flight services including meals, check-in facilities and airport lounges. Starting from February 20, 2010 on the Narita/New York route, ANA will introduce the new products and services on its long-haul routes, North America and Europe, operated by new model aircraft of Boeing B777-300ER. Investing 15 billion to 17 billion yen on the refurbishing of six new aircraft and another six existing aircraft, the airline aims to increase the turnover by 5 billion yen each year. Shinichiro Ito, ANA’s president and CEO, said that the airline considers the product strategy as one of the pillars of its growth strategy for the imminent drastic changes in the airline industry. He added that ANA is going to provide its well-established value-added services in the world airline market, indicating the company’s strong eagerness to improve the competitiveness.

ANA will refurbish passenger seats in all four classes, First, Business, Premier Economy and Economy, to enhance the respective passenger comfort. The airline will also start new in-flight meal services, for instance, in Business class, which can be ordered at any time during the flight according to a passenger’s choice of menu. The menu under the supervision of Harumi Kurihara, a popular chef and also with the cooperation of popular restaurants will be provided and, from April 2010, passengers can even order in-fight meals and drinks from a touch-screen on their personal TV monitor during the flight. On-board sleeping amenities including a pillow will feature Aqua Titan material exclusively developed by Pheiten Co., Ltd.

In addition, ANA will start content service in its official website, providing information on how to make the most of the time at an airport and during a flight. In February 2010, its First Class lounge at Narita International Airport will be refurbished and by autumn in the same year the airline is scheduled to inaugurate the check-in space dedicated exclusively to its First class customers and the ANA Diamond Service members.

The introduction of these new products and services, other than on the Narita/New York route, is slated for the Narita/Frankfurt and Narita/London routes during the fiscal year 2010. A total of six to seven routes will also see the introduction of the new products and services during FY2011. The same new brand concept will basically be introduced also on the middle- and short-haul routes, but the cabin facilities including a passenger seat will be subject to further considerations based on market needs on the routes.

Meanwhile, ANA decided to use Masahiro Motoki, an actor, for advertizing its new brand concept to be launched in newspapers and magazines early in the new year.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.