On Sunday 25th October 2015, the largest Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) started a daily non-stop service between Tokyo and Brussels; this is the first direct service between the two countries in 14 years. The connection will generate more than 100 new direct jobs in and around Brussels Airport and many more indirect jobs in the tourist sector and in the air cargo industry. It offers both Belgian and Japanese companies new opportunities for investment and export.
The friendly people of ANA and Brussels Airport kindly invited me to a unique press event to get a glimpse of this new non-stop daily flight.
Arrival
The ANA plane, Boeing 787 Dreamliner JA828A, was given a warm reception with an escort in formation of the airside inspection and the traditional water salute on the tarmac of Brussels Airport. The passengers on the first – fully booked – flight from and to Tokyo were treated to Belgian chocolate.
The inaugural flight NH231 NRT-BRU is about to land at Brussels Airport
Escort in formation of the airside inspection
Ceremony
During an official ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister Kris Peeters and Transport Minister Jacqueline Galant, the chairman and CEO of ANA Holdings, Shinya Katanozaka, and the CEO of Brussels Airport Arnaud Feist celebrated the new collaboration.
“Brussels Airport is honoured to be able to welcome such a prestigious airline as ANA. Both our companies share the values of customer intimacy, perfection and service. The direct flight creates hundreds of new direct and indirect jobs in and around our airport, stimulates tourism between both our countries, and gives Belgian companies an important new transport link for Belgian export goods such as chocolate and pharmaceutical products”, said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport.
Speech by Mr Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport
“This new, unique direct service between Japan and Belgium plays an important role in ANA’s strategy to develop an extensive international network of destinations. The flight schedule has been designed to offer passengers the best possible connections at Brussels Airport, in collaboration with ANA’s joint partners and Brussels Airlines in the Star Alliance network”, said Shinya Katanozaka, chairman and CEO of ANA Holdings.
Speech by Mr Shinya Katanozaka, chairman and CEO of ANA Holdings
Exchange of gifts
Kagami-biraki: a Japanese ceremonial tradition in which the lid of the sake barrel is broken open by a wooden mallet, to bring good luck
Why Opening A New Route To Brussels?
- ANA predicts robust business demand to and from Belgium, home to many international and European organisations and businesses. This includes 241 Japanese corporations, among which are some major players, like Toyota, Komatsu, and Fujitsu.
- Brussels is also an important political centre, home of the EU, various European organisations and NATO headquarters.
- This new flight signifies the importance of the long-standing trade relations between Japan and Belgium (150th anniversary in 2016).
- ANA’s daily flight between Brussels Airport and Tokyo Narita will be the only non-stop service from Japan to Belgium. It will dramatically improve access for passengers to and from Japan, with onward connections to destinations such as Africa with Brussels Airlines.
- This direct flight to Brussels is also being launched due to other external factors: a positive economic environment and fleet strategy, availability of optimal aircraft such as the Dreamliner and availability of slots.
- Brussels Airport is a major European long-haul hub, with healthy demand from business travellers. Many passengers take the high-speed train to Brussels from Paris, Amsterdam and other neighbouring cities.
- ANA is a joint venture partner with Lufthansa, and Lufthansa Group’s airline, Brussels Airlines, has a European network based at Brussels Airport. This, combined with ANA’s five existing European routes (Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Paris and London) will further improve accessibility throughout the continent.
ANA’s Fleet
- Boeing B777-300: 29
- Boeing B777-200: 28
- Boeing B787-8: 34
- Boeing B787-9: 7
- Boeing B767-300: 52
- Boeing 737-800: 31
- Boeing 737-700: 11
- Boeing 737-500: 18
- Airbus A320: 12
- Bombardier DHC8-400: 21
Aircraft Visit
After the offical ceremony, the media was kindly invited to a guided tour of the aircraft, where we could get some more information of the various services offered onboard. On this new route to Brussels, ANA is operating a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 46 seats in Business Class, 23 seats in Premium Economy, and 102 seats in Economy Class.
One of the 46 Business Class seats onboard the ANA Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Friendly crew of All Nippon Airways
Flight deck of the ANA Boeing 787 Dreamliner shortly after the inaugural flight Tokyo-Brussels
Many thanks to All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Brussels Airport for a unique ANA Dreamliner experience.
More photos are available on my Flickr Photostream.