Nippon Airways flight NH857, the first from Haneda Airport to Ha Noi, arrived on March 30. ­

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — All Nippon Airways Company Ltd (ANA), which is Japan's largest airline, launched direct flights between Ha Noi's Noi Bai Airport and Tokyo's Haneda Airport on March 30.

Flight NH857, the first ANA flight from Haneda, which is very close to Tokyo city, brought 208 passengers to Ha Noi and the return flight, NH858, left for Haneda on March 30 with 180 passengers on board.

The daily Ha Noi–Tokyo direct flight is ANA's second flight service in Viet Nam, which will contribute to expanding ANA's flights between the two countries and enhancing bilateral cooperation. The HCM City-Tokyo flight service has been operating since 2001.

ANA's first return flight to Tokyo from Ha Noi departed on March 30 with 180 passengers on board. — Photos ANA

In mid-March, ANA was awarded 5-stars for the second year in a row by SKYTRAX – the world's leading airline and airport review specialists – thanks to its efforts to improve in-flight services and airport lounges.

Late last week, ANA placed its biggest-ever order for 70 new planes from Boeing and Airbus, worth 1.7 trillion yen, or US$16.6 billion, at listed prices.

ANA said the order was a response to the increasing number of passengers expected to visit Japan in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It will support the Japanese government's plans to boost the number of foreign investors in that country to 20 million.

The new planes would help ANA modernise and expand its fleet with the aim of becoming one of the world's leading airlines groups, ANA said. — VNS