ANA’s Unique Airbus A380 Fleet: What Makes the ‘Flying Honu’ So Special?

While most Airbus A380 operators use the superjumbo on multiple high-capacity routes, Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has taken a very different approach.

The airline operates just three Airbus A380-800s, and every one of them is dedicated to a single destination: Honolulu, Hawaii. Adorned in colourful sea turtle-inspired liveries, the aircraft have become some of the most recognisable A380s in the world.

But with only three aircraft flying one route, many enthusiasts have begun asking an obvious question: how long will they remain in service?

Why Did ANA Buy the A380?

Masakatsu Ukon, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

ANA wasn’t originally expected to become an A380 operator.

The airline acquired the aircraft as part of its takeover of Skymark Airlines, which had ordered six A380s but entered bankruptcy before taking delivery. As part of the restructuring agreement, ANA accepted three of the aircraft, while the remaining three undelivered examples were eventually absorbed into Airbus’ inventory.

Although the order wasn’t part of ANA’s original fleet strategy, the airline quickly found a role for the aircraft by targeting one of Japan’s most popular overseas holiday destinations.

ANA A380 at the gate. Photo: Charles

Meet the Flying Honu Fleet

ANA’s Airbus A380 fleet consists of three aircraft:

Each aircraft carries a unique “Flying Honu” livery.

“Honu” is the Hawaiian word for green sea turtle, an animal regarded in Hawaiian culture as a symbol of good luck, longevity and safe travel. Together, the three aircraft represent:

• Blue (“Lani”) – the Hawaiian sky
• Green (“Kai”) – the Hawaiian ocean
• Orange (“Lā”) – the Hawaiian sunset

The colourful aircraft have become hugely popular with aviation enthusiasts, making them among the world’s most photographed Airbus A380s.

Flying Exclusively to Hawaii

ANA A380 in Honolulu, Hawaii Aero Icarus

Unlike Emirates, Singapore Airlines or British Airways, ANA does not spread its A380 fleet across a network of destinations.

Instead, every scheduled A380 flight operates between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu. The route has long been one of Japan’s busiest leisure markets, with Hawaii remaining one of the country’s favourite overseas holiday destinations.

The aircraft entered service in May 2019 and continue to operate the Narita-Honolulu route year-round, with ANA adjusting frequencies seasonally depending on demand.

A Cabin Designed for Families

ANA configured its A380s very differently from many other operators.

Each aircraft seats 520 passengers across four classes:

• 8 First Class
• 56 Business Class
• 73 Premium Economy
• 383 Economy

One of the fleet’s unique features is ANA COUCHii, allowing groups of three or four economy seats to convert into a sofa-style space for families travelling with young children.

The aircraft also includes family-friendly facilities, a dedicated multi-purpose room and Hawaii-themed interiors, reflecting the route’s strong leisure focus.

Could ANA Retire Them Early?

Photo: Kevin Hackert

The idea surfaces regularly among aviation enthusiasts.

After all, operating just three Airbus A380s creates obvious challenges. The type requires dedicated maintenance, specialised crew training and spare parts support for a very small fleet.

Meanwhile, ANA’s long-haul fleet is otherwise built around the much more flexible Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with additional Boeing 777-9s expected to join in the coming years.

However, despite occasional speculation, there is no indication that ANA plans to retire the A380s in the near future.

In fact, the airline has continued investing in the fleet. The third aircraft only entered commercial service in late 2023 after spending an extended period in storage during the pandemic, and the A380 continues to feature prominently in ANA’s published schedules for 2026 on the Tokyo Narita-Honolulu route.

Why They May Stay

There are several reasons why the Flying Honu fleet could remain part of ANA’s network for many years.

Firstly, the aircraft have become an important marketing tool. The distinctive liveries are recognised worldwide and reinforce ANA’s close association with Hawaii.

Secondly, the Tokyo-Honolulu market remains ideally suited to a high-capacity aircraft. Rather than operating additional frequencies, ANA can transport more than 500 passengers in a single flight while offering premium cabins and family-friendly products that are difficult to match on smaller aircraft.

Finally, the aircraft are still relatively young. Delivered between 2019 and 2021, they are among the newest A380s in the world and have many years of economic life remaining.