ANA, Japan’s largest airline, will introduce new services on its international and domestic flights starting in September 2017 to welcome its passengers with the utmost in Japanese hospitality. On September 1st, the airline will begin offering Japanese sake Ichinokura Tokubetsu Junmai Sake Dry from the renowned Ichinokura brewery, in Economy class on international flights. Then on September 13th, ANA will open a new lounge for domestic flights at Sapporo (New Chitose) airport, designed by the world famous Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma.
Japanese sake service in Economy Class from September 1
ANA will be offering Japanese sake service on international flights in Economy Class, in addition to existing sake service in First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy. By expanding the service to passengers in Economy Class, the carrier cordially offers more passengers an opportunity to enjoy the rich flavours of this delicious beverage, while also contributing to the promotion of Japan’s proud sake culture both overseas and domestically.
“Sake is popular in Japan and in many countries around the world. In recent years, many of our passengers have been asking us to serve sake in Economy Class,” said Yuzo Hara, Vice President of Products & Services Strategy, ANA.
“The number of international visitors to Japan is increasing, and this trend is expected to continue, as Japan hosts a number of international events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
Being Japan’s only 5-star airline, we want to give all our passengers around the world the opportunity to try quality sake. We hope that our passengers will pair the sake with their meals on board ANA flights, for a full Japanese gastronomic experience. The Ichinokura brewery is famous for carefully brewing high-quality sake using a blend of tradition mixed with innovation, which are two of the values we share at ANA.”
Service Outline
Class of service: served in Economy Class on all ANA international flights
Brand: Ichinokura Tokubetsu Junmai Sake Dry
This sake is brewed from Sasanishiki and Kura no Hana, two varieties of rice from Miyagi Prefecture, the home of Ichinokura. A fine balance of the soft umami (savoury) flavours of the rice is captured in the deep taste of this high-quality sake, which is brewed with meticulous care by the craftspeople of Ichinokura as they maintain their long-standing customs and traditional approach to sake brewing.
The sake is branded with an original ANA label, designed to portray a soothing in-flight experience above the clouds.
New ANA SUITE LOUNGE and ANA LOUNGE designed by celebrated Japanese Architect Kengo Kuma will open at Sapporo (New Chitose) airport on September 13
Following the construction of the ANA SUITE LOUNGE and the renovation of the ANA LOUNGE for domestic flights at the Sapporo (New Chitose) airport, the lounges will be newly opened on September 13, 2017.
“The overall design concept of the new lounges is ‘Ichigo ichie’ (treasure every encounter as if it were once in a lifetime). This concept is based on the Japanese saying, with a new interpretation,” said Kengo Kuma.
I hope to create a space embodying ANA’s trademark hospitality that blends Japan’s ‘history of beauty’ with refined designs that bring a ‘sparkling moment in time’ for each of the customers.
At the lounge reception, I used washi (Japanese traditional paper) to build the ceiling to represent ‘clouds above the sky.’ Also the chandelier lights using Bohemian glass and long tables with green mosses can be found in the lounges to let customers feel the beauty of the nature of Hokkaido during their stay.”
This marks the first domestic ANA SUITE LOUNGE at Sapporo (New Chitose) airport. The food and beverage menus are based on premium Hokkaido ingredients, such as cheese tarts, Hokkaido beer, and onigiri rice balls using Hokkaido-produced rice. ANA currently operates other domestic ANA SUITE LOUNGES at Tokyo (Haneda), Osaka (Itami), and Okinawa (Naha) airports.
Together with the new domestic airport lounges, ANA will renew its domestic in-flight services, such as enhanced meal service, longer hours of lunch service in the Premium Class in autumn. Also, ANA has increased the number of free entertainment programs in its domestic Wi-Fi service.
For greater comfort, ANA missed the point. It should have reverted to 2-4-2 seating in the economy class of its 787 “Dream”liners.