TOKYO— AirJapan (NQ), the low-cost long-haul brand of ANA Group (NH), operated its final flights on March 28, 2026, marking the end of a two-year journey that began with a single route from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Bangkok (BKK).
A farewell event at Narita Airport honored the brand’s last departure before the brand officially ceased operations.
Launched in February 2024, AirJapan was positioned as ANA Group’s hybrid carrier, bridging the gap between full-service travel and budget-friendly fares. The airline was first founded as World Air Network in 1990 and has gone through multiple renames and rebrandings over 36 years.
The brand served over 968,900 passengers across four routes in just over two years before ANA Group’s restructuring brought it to a close.
AirJapan’s Final Flight
ANA Group launched AirJapan as its third brand, sitting alongside the full-service carrier All Nippon Airways (NH) and the low-cost carrier Peach Aviation (MM).
The airline operated under the philosophy of delivering Japanese-style hospitality at fares comparable to a low-cost carrier, a model it described with the slogan Fly Thoughtful.
The brand debuted on February 9, 2024, with service from Narita International Airport (NRT) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). It later expanded to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), building a lean but focused network across Southeast and East Asia.
AirJapan’s identity was carefully crafted around Japanese aesthetics. The airline used indigo and dawn blue as its brand colors, applied across aircraft liveries and crew uniforms.
In-flight meals reflected Japanese themes, and the airline hosted onboard events including projection mapping experiences and gachapon capsule toy vending machines, creating a distinctive, culturally rooted passenger experience.
Fleet and Final Day Operations
AirJapan operated a fleet of three Boeing 787-8 aircraft, each configured in a single-class layout with 324 seats. On March 28, 2026, all three aircraft flew simultaneously on their respective routes:
- JA801A operated flights NQ1/2 on the Bangkok (BKK) route.
- JA802A operated flights NQ121/122 on the Seoul Incheon (ICN) route.
- JA803A operated flights NQ3/4 on the Singapore (SIN) route.
The final Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Bangkok (BKK) departure, flight NQ1, carried 298 of its 324 available seats. Approximately 70 Air Japan staff gathered at the ramp for a send-off, waving glow sticks as the sun set behind the departing aircraft.
Passengers received boarding certificates, commemorative stickers, and seven passengers per final flight were selected by lottery to receive special gifts.
Passenger Milestones Across Two Years
By the time AirJapan concluded operations, the airline had logged a significant volume of flights and passengers across its three routes:
- Bangkok (NRT-BKK): 1,514 flights, approximately 344,200 passengers.
- Seoul Incheon (NRT-ICN): 1,520 flights, approximately 369,500 passengers.
- Singapore (NRT-SIN): 1,090 flights, approximately 255,200 passengers.
Combined, AirJapan operated 4,124 flights and transported approximately 968,900 passengers, figures that include projections for the final day of operations.
Final Words from Air Japan’s Leadership
At the gate before the last departure, Naoki Michihiro, General Manager of Flight Operations at Air Japan Inc., addressed passengers and staff. Noting that Thai passengers made 80% of reservations on the final Bangkok flight, he delivered his remarks in Thai, Japanese, and English, AIRLINE Web reported.
Michihiro stated that AirJapan had fulfilled two core missions: welcoming international travelers with Japanese hospitality, and offering Japanese travelers a more personal and flexible way to fly abroad.
He confirmed the final flight departed with a full load and expressed confidence that the airline had achieved what it set out to do.
He also emphasized that the knowledge and experience built through AirJapan would serve as an asset for the future development of the ANA Group.
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