Wednesday, September 2, 2015

ANA restores Kuala Lumpur link.

On September 1st, All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] resumed Kuala Lumpur/Sepang [KUL/WMKK] with daily nonstop service from Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] using 240-seat (42 business and 198 economy class) Boeing 787-8s, ending a 13-year hiatus (ANA reveals Kuala Lumpur and expansion at Narita.). ANA used to serve the city via Bangkok/Don Mueang [DMK/VTBD] until January 14th, 2002.

Boeing 787-8 JA829A prepares for departure from Narita for their first flight to Kuala Lumpur on September 1st. ANA's Dreamliner fleet is comprised of 34 -8s and seven -9s, with another two and 36 on order, respectively, along with three -10s. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Inaugural flight NH815 departed Narita on-time at 1720 JST with a load of 227 passengers. It took off 18 minutes later. "We have been strengthening our Asian network, and Kuala Lumpur had been at the top of our wishlist," said Osamu Shinobe, President of ANA, adding "We expect Asia – North America travel to account for 40%. With Narita's departure and arrival timed for connections, Star Alliance's unfinished business here is how to connect at the Malaysia end."

Flight Schedule:
Narita – Kuala Lumpur/Sepang NEW 1 daily with 787-8.
NH815 NRT 1720 – 2335 KUL 788 Daily
NH816 KUL 0700 – 1500 NRT 788 Daily 

The new round-trip is timed to receive feed from North American arrivals at Narita, while the departure from Kuala Lumpur is timed for onward connections across the Pacific after arriving into Narita.

The route sees competition from Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] with a daily flight operated by 767-300ERs and Malaysia Airlines [MH/MAS] with 10 times weekly flown with Airbus A330-300s. AirAsia X [D7/XAX] suspended its Narita link effective August 20th, though it continues to operate daily from Tokyo/Haneda [HND/RJTT], the preferred downtown airport serving Japan's capital.

Source: Aviation Wire, 2015 September 1st. (in Japanese)

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