AirJapan to cease operations amid Ukraine war and AOG issues
October 31, 2025
AirJapan is to cease operations next year as part of a major realignment of All Nippon Airways (ANA) Group’s business strategy.
Citing operational and geopolitical challenges that have complicated the group’s post-pandemic recovery, ANA said the mid-market carrier would operate its last flight next March.
The decision marks an early end for the carrier that had aimed to bridge the gap between ANA’s full-service offering and low-cost arm Peach Aviation.
Announcing the change on 30 October, ANA said the AirJapan brand will be withdrawn in 2026 as the group shifts back to a two-brand structure centred on ANA and Peach.
The move is intended to “maximise profitability and competitiveness” while ensuring flexibility in response to global disruption.
AirJapan to cease operations in 2026
AirJapan targeted international travellers seeking a balance between price and comfort, offering ANA-style service with simplified fare options. The carrier operated a fleet of 78 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, spread across all three variants (-8, -9 and -10).
However, prolonged challenges, including the war in Ukraine, which continues to restrict key air corridors, and delays to new aircraft deliveries have placed sustained pressure on capacity and costs.
In addition, ANA Group continues to face an Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situation with part of its Boeing 787 fleet, a problem that has limited the group’s operational flexibility.
Integrating AirJapan’s aircraft and personnel back into ANA’s mainline operation is expected to help stabilise the network and support the airline’s wider international expansion plan.
ANA seeks to shift resources
“To optimise the allocation of the group’s resources, ANA Group decided to suspend the AirJapan brand,” ANA Group said in a statement. “Its aircraft and human resources will be consolidated into the ANA brand’s operations to expand its international business.”
ANA intends to redeploy AirJapan’s aircraft on higher-demand international services, such as new routes to Stockholm, Milan and Istanbul, which have been launched from Tokyo Haneda since late 2024.
Meanwhile, Peach Aviation will continue to anchor the group’s low-cost strategy, expanding its network primarily across Kansai–Asia routes, where leisure and inbound demand remain strong.
The restructured dual-brand approach mirrors the consolidation seen across several global airline groups, enabling ANA to separate its full-service and budget offerings while eliminating overlap in the mid-tier segment that AirJapan had occupied.
Operating three brands proved viable in a growth environment, but increasingly challenging under capacity shortages and geopolitical tension.
ANA Group said AirJapan’s final flight would take place on 26 March 2026, from Singapore to Tokyo Narita.
Photo: AirJapan
