HOUSTON, TX – ANA, Japan’s leading airline, is announcing plans to connect Tokyo and Houston, Texas with nonstop air service beginning in the spring of 2015.  The new flight will operate between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and will dramatically enhance connection options for passengers traveling between Asia and various destinations located throughout the Americas. 

“Houston’s dynamic economy and diverse population continue to strengthen its position on the world stage,” says Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who recently led a 30 member delegation of local elected officials and business and community leaders on a week-long trade mission to South Korea and Tokyo designed to enhance and cultivate business and cultural exchange opportunities between Houston leaders and key members of the public and private sector in Asia.  “All Nippon Airways’ commitment is an example of Houston’s enhanced status as a gateway city and a key player in the global marketplace.

Houston not only enjoys significant demand for flights to Asia, but George Bush Intercontinental Airport also represents one of the biggest hub airports for ANA’s joint venture partner United Airlines. This will enable ANA to improve access for its passengers to Central and South America via Houston. IAH has a wealth of domestic and international connections making it easier for passengers from Asian countries to fly through to various US destinations and other countries with growing business demand such as Mexico and Brazil.

"We are very pleased to be launching a new international service from Tokyo to Houston,” Osamu Shinobe, President and CEO of ANA said.  “Houston will be our tenth destination in North America and will provide a great gateway to Central and South America from Japan and many other Asian countries. Together with our joint venture partner United, we are confident that passenger demand will be high and that our expanding network will provide customers with greater choice."​​

The announcement from ANA comes at a time when the City of Houston is enjoying unprecedented levels of international air travel.  An all-time high in this category was set in 2013 and the final mark is expected to be even higher at the close of the current year.  Amidst all this growth, Asia stands as the fastest growing region in regards to international traffic at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

“Our mission is to connect the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to Houston,” says Houston Aviation Director Mario C. Diaz.  “Establishing and maintaining a strong level of connectivity throughout the Asian region is absolutely essential in accomplishing this mission and the arrival of ANA is a tremendous step forward in this regard.”

The flight will depart Houston at 11:20 a.m. (CST) and will feature service aboard the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.  ANA will begin taking reservations for these flights on December 17, 2014.

About ANA

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is the 13th largest airline in the world by revenues (2013) and the largest airline in Japan by revenues and passenger numbers. Founded in 1952, ANA flies today on 72 international routes and 115 domestic routes with a fleet of about 240 aircraft. ANA Group has 33,000 employees. In 2013, it carried 46 million passengers and generated revenues of 1.6 trillion Japanese yen. 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 26 million members. ANA was voted Airline of the Year for 2013 by Air Transport World Magazine, and was awarded five stars in 2013 and 2014 by the world's leading Airline and Airport review site, SKYTRAX. ANA is the launch customer and biggest operator of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. For more information on ANA, click here.

About the Houston Airport System

The Houston Airport System (HAS) served more than 50 million passengers in 2013. Houston's three airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD) contribute more than $27.5 billion to the regional economy. With nonstop flights to more than 170 destinations worldwide, IAH is the tenth-busiest airport in the nation and is the largest hub for United Airlines. For more information, visit fly2houston.com.