All Nippon's 767 Stalwarts: From 281s to 381F(ER)s

All Nippon began its long association with the Boeing 767 when it ordered 25 of the series 200 in July 1979. The first aircraft, JA8479, was delivered in April 1983 with the last 767-281 arriving in April 1987. The 767s allowed All Nippon to right-size some of its operations and replaced 10 of the 21 L-1011 Tristars. The 767 would go on to be probably the most important member of the fleet for the next 30 years with 101 aircraft being used at one stage or another. In 2015 the fleet of the type still numbers 52 aircraft.

Prior to completion of its 767-281 deliveries All Nippon graduated to the Boeing 767-381. In December 1985 it placed an order for 15 aircraft with 10 further options in a deal that was reportedly worth up to $1.8 billion. The 767-300 triumphed over the A300-600 allegedly due to reasons of commonality with its series 200s and a lower initial operating cost, however at the time the US was also pressuring Japan about the $50 billion trade surplus enjoyed by Japan over the USA. No doubt the purchase played well on both sides of Pacific and at the time Airbus orders from either JAL or ANA were unheard of. ANA was only the third airline after Delta and JAL to have ordered the 767-300.

The first 767-381, JA8256, was delivered on June 10, 1987. A further 20 767-300s were ordered from Boeing in May 1989 with additional orders bringing All Nippons 767 order totals to 63 by October 1992 when it took delivery of its 50th 767.

By 2001 All Nippon operated 53 767s (11 767-200s, 34 767-300s and 8 767-300ERs) and was still ordering new aircraft with 9 further ERs bought that year. These later 767s were fitted with a 777 inspired interior cabin design.

The 767-281 fleet was gradually sold off in its entirety to ABX Air between August 1997 and mid-2003 where they were converted to freighters. Only one of the 25 aircraft didn't make the switch when JA8254 was damaged beyond repair during a touch and go landing at Okinawa.

In August 2002 All Nippon accepted its first 767-300 Freighter, JA601F, which was also the airline's first full freighter aircraft. It was the 74th 767 to be delivered to ANA. Three years later All Nippon was the launch customer for the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) program with an agreement for the conversion of four frames (and three further options). Since then four new build 767 freghters have been delivered (JA601-604F) and seven aircraft converted (JA8286, 8323, 8362, 8356, 8358, 8664 and 8970). The freighter 767s operate from a cargo hub at Naha airport in Okinawa on night regional routes throughout Asia as well as daylight services from Tokyo and Osaka. Joint venture cargo operations ANA & JP Express (started in 2006) and Allex (2008) were merged into mainline ANA cargo operations in 2010 and 2009 respectively.

This aircraft, JA8358 delivered in May 1992, operated for ANA’s charter subsidiary Air Japan in 2003 prior to conversion to a freighter in May 2009.

All Nippon continued to purchase new 767-300ERs as late as September 2008 when another 9 were ordered as part of the deal to compensate and manage the late delivery of its 50 787-8s. Boeing was able to use supplemental 767s to offset compensation payments and provide extra load for airlines like All Nippon which had been hit by the over a year's worth of delays suffered by the Dreamliner program.

It was rather fitting given All Nippon's relationship with the 767 that it received the 1000th aircraft built, JA622A, on February 24, 2011. All Nippon's last new build 767, JA627A, was finally delivered on March 23, 2012 though since then a 5th 767 freighter has been added (JA605F) from the second-hand market. The 767-300 fleet remained effectively intact until retirements began in 2012. As of 2015 there are still 52 767-300s in service of the 101 that have seen service with ANA.

References

1987. LA Times. All Nippon Airways to Buy 15 Boeing Jets : 767 Edges Out Airbus for $1.8-Billion Contract
1989 Chicago Tribune. All Nippon Airways Co. ordered 20 B767-300s from Boeing
2001. Airliners.net. All Nippon Airways Places Order For Boeing 767-300
2002. Boeing Media Room. All Nippon Receives First 767 Freighter
2005. CAPA. Boeing and All Nippon launch Boeing 767 Converted Freighter
2008: Seattle PI Blog. ANA and JAL to get Boeing 767s