Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Soar Over Bay Area Skies Again
SAN JOSE, CALIF., 2013-05-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — All Nippon Airways (ANA) will resume nonstop service between Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) and Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 1, 2013. ANA’s first priority is passenger safety, and is working closely with the Boeing Company, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to successfully complete required modifications to the battery system and recertification of its fleet of 17 Dreamliners.
ANA service will resume between SJC and NRT in June 2013 following the successful completion of battery system modifications, safety checks and test flights on its Dreamliner aircraft (see details here). ANA will operate five weekly flights, and plans to increase to daily service in September 2013.
“We are pleased to announce the resumption of 787 services between San Jose and Tokyo in June,” said ANA President and CEO Osamu Shinobe. “This is an important route for ANA, and we expect it to grow. We plan to increase the San Jose service from five times a week to daily service by the end of September 2013.”
Customers may book reservations for SJC-NRT service – which will operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – at 800-235-9262 or fly-ana.com beginning May 10, 2013. From Tokyo, travelers will enjoy easy connections to Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Delhi, Singapore, Taipei and other Asia destinations.
“We’re excited that ANA will soon resume its nonstop service between San José and Tokyo,” Mayor Chuck Reed said. “I’d like to thank ANA for their continued diligence in ensuring passenger safety and for their commitment to offering Silicon Valley businesses and travelers a convenient connection to Japan and the Pacific Rim.”
ANA was the launch customer for the Dreamliner, built mainly from carbon fiber composite material and featuring increased fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. Consistent with its business focus, ANA chose SJC for the Airport’s convenience and ultra-modern facilities, at the center ofSilicon Valley, rebuilt in 2010.
“We warmly welcome the return of All Nippon Airways and Dreamliner service, and will continue to work closely with ANA staff to ensure the success of this important service,” said Director of Aviation Bill Sherry. “While aircraft inspections were underway, our newest international airline continued to offer world-class service to Silicon Valley travelers through communication and by offering air service and ground transportation options through other West Coast airports. SJC passengers can look forward to this same unwavering commitment to safety and customer service when flights resume at Mineta San José International Airport in June.”
Significant demand exists for the new ANA flight to Tokyo. Hundreds of business headquarters, including many Japanese companies, are located within a 12-mile radius of SJC. Additionally, San José’s Asian population is the third largest in the US per the 2010 Census.
About All Nippon Airways
All Nippon Airways (ANA) is the eighth largest airline in the world by revenues (2011) and the largest in Japan by passenger numbers (2012). Founded in 1952, ANA flies today to 31 international destinations and 50 domestic cities with a fleet of 232 aircraft serving a network of 175 routes. ANA has 14,000 employees. In 2012, it carried 45 million passengers and generated revenues of $15.8 bn. ANA has been a core member of Star Alliance since 1999 and has joint-ventures with United Airlines on trans-Pacific and Asia routes and with Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines and Austrian Airlines on Japan-Europe routes. Its Frequent Flyer Program, ANA Mileage Club, has more than 24 million members. ANA was voted Airline of the Year for 2013 by Air Transport World Magazine, and was awarded five stars by the world’s leading Airline and Airport review site, SKYTRAX. ANA is the launch customer and biggest operator of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Visit www.fly-ana.com.
About Mineta San José International Airport
Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is Silicon Valley’s airport, a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC served 8.3 million passengers in 2012, and offers approximately 120 daily flights on 13 domestic and international carriers to 30 nonstop destinations.
The airport’s $1.3 billion comprehensive modernization project, completed in 2010, makes SJC the most technologically advanced airport in the nation and the first terminal awarded LEED Silver certification for environmental sustainability. Silicon Valley’s airport is located in San José,California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city. Visit www.flysanjose.com/fl.
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