ANA Holdings has officially acquired 100% of Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) as of August 1, making the ANA Group Japan’s largest combined passenger and cargo carrier. The acquisition, completed through a share exchange with Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, strengthens ANA’s cargo capabilities and expands its global network.
By integrating NCA’s freighter routes between Japan, Europe, and the U.S. with ANA’s existing international passenger and freighter services, the group will now operate one of the most comprehensive cargo networks in Asia. ANA’s fleet of Boeing 767 and 777 freighters will be complemented by NCA’s eight Boeing 747-8Fs, positioning ANA Group as the 14th largest airline group globally by cargo volume (IATA 2024).
The move aims to enhance supply chain resilience, increase profitability, and improve logistics infrastructure, particularly ahead of the Narita Airport expansion. The financial integration of NCA into ANA’s books is expected from Q2 of FY2025.
ANA President and CEO Koji Shibata emphasised that the merger combines ANA’s network with NCA’s expertise in specialised cargo, promising “exceptional value” and more flexible cargo transport options for customers worldwide.