AirJapan, ANA’s new low-cost brand, currently operates one ex-ANA 787-8. The next 787-8 to join its fleet, JA801A, ended its service with ANA on March 1, 2024, and the next morning, it departed for Xiamen where it will undergo maintenance and other preparation work before joining AirJapan’s fleet.
ANA was the world’s first operator of the 787 and JA801A was the first airframe of the type to have joined the airline’s fleet back in 2011. Together with the second airframe, JA802A, the aircraft wore a special livery celebrating the introduction of the new type into ANA’s fleet before being repainted into the airline’s standard livery.
JA801A’s last commercial flight with ANA was NH868 from Seoul Gimpo to Tokyo Haneda. On the morning of March 2, 2024, the aircraft was ferried to Xiamen as flight NH9411. According to previous reports, the aircraft is expected to join AirJapan’s fleet in mid-April 2024.
In addition to being painted into the AirJapan livery and undergoing maintenance work, the aircraft’s interior will also be reconfigured from the current 240 seats including 42 in business and 198 in economy class to AirJapan’s all-economy class configuration with 324 seats.
