Airline trust profile
All Nippon Airways NH
Star Alliance · Hub: Tokyo Haneda
At a glance
Key facts about this carrier
All Nippon Airways (NH) is Japan's largest airline and Star Alliance member, operating dual hubs at Tokyo Narita and Haneda with top-tier service.
- Star Alliance member and Japan's largest carrier by revenue and passengers
- Dual Tokyo hubs at Narita (NRT) for international and Haneda (HND) for domestic and select international
- Consistently rated 5-star by Skytrax for service quality
- Excellent for transpacific routing from multiple US West Coast gateways
- Dense domestic Japan network ideal for multi-city itineraries
Why this tier
ANA is Japan's largest airline with 217 aircraft serving 503 routes, holding Skytrax 5-Star status for 13 consecutive years (2013-2025) - one of only 11 airlines worldwide at that tier. Hub operations at Tokyo Haneda/Narita anchor a Star Alliance network covering 10 North American gateways, European capitals, and dense intra-Asia coverage, with a $14 billion fleet order (77 aircraft) placed in 2025 targeting 320 aircraft by FY2030.
Strengths
- Skytrax 5-Star rating held for 13 consecutive years - one of only 11 airlines globally and the sole Japanese carrier at that level
- THE Room business class on 777-300ER offers a 38-inch-wide suite with closing doors and direct aisle access, widely rated as best-in-class; THE Room FX variant launches on 787s in August 2026 with 41.5-inch width
- Topped Cirium Asia-Pacific on-time performance rankings for five consecutive years; current Airportia OTP rating of 4.8/5
- Fleet of 84 Boeing 787s (largest 787 operator class) provides efficient widebody coverage across medium and long-haul routes
- Dual Tokyo hub (Haneda + Narita) gives routing flexibility - Haneda for premium city-center convenience, Narita for cargo and leisure connections
- 77-aircraft order placed February 2025 ($14B) signals aggressive capacity growth through FY2030
Watch-outs
- Japan transport ministry issued a business improvement advisory in 2025 for two cases of improper aircraft maintenance conduct, including falsified mechanic records - third such incident after a 2024 case
- ANA Mileage Club discontinued Star Alliance RTW award tickets as of June 23, 2025, removing what was one of the best-value RTW redemption charts in the industry
- THE Room business class availability is notoriously scarce on award bookings; product currently limited to 777-300ER routes (NRT/HND-JFK, LHR, and rotating CHI/SFO frequencies) until 787 FX rollout in late 2026
- Website and booking system draws persistent complaints for checkout errors, failed payment processing, and difficult refund workflows through third-party channels
Best used for
- Transpacific
- Intra-Asia connections
- Europe–Asia long-haul
- Business class RTW
- Premium long-haul
Consultant intelligence
Operational notes
Hub and Connections
Dual hubs at Narita (NRT) for most international and Haneda (HND) for domestic plus select international. Minimum connection NRT is 90 minutes international-international, 120 minutes if connecting NRT-HND (requires bus/train transfer between airports, 90+ minutes). HND minimum connection 60 minutes domestic, 75 minutes international. Extensive domestic network of 50+ cities feeds international departures.
Baggage
Bags check through on Star Alliance itineraries. Generous 2-piece international allowance even in economy. Domestic Japan flights allow 2x23kg. Interline agreements cover all Star Alliance members. ANA handles bags reliably with very low mishandling rates.
Terminal Notes
NRT Terminal 1 South Wing for ANA and Star Alliance partners. HND Terminal 2 for domestic, Terminal 3 for international. ANA Lounge and ANA Suite Lounge at NRT and HND. Star Alliance Gold gets ANA Lounge access. NRT-HND transfer is a significant logistics issue: allow 3+ hours if connecting between airports.
Operational Issues
Typhoon season (July-October) causes cancellations and delays, especially to/from southern Japan and Okinawa. ANA has excellent on-time performance outside weather events. NRT curfew (no operations 23:00-06:00) means late delays can cascade to next day. Golden Week (late April-early May) and Obon (mid-August) see extremely high loads.
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