JA806A pulling into Gate 15 at San Jose Airport (SJC) – Photo: Mal Muir | AirlineReporter.com
A beautiful, clear, sunny day awaited guests as they checked in at San Jose’s Norman Y Mineta International Airport (SJC). Saturday was the day a lot of people have been waiting for: All Nippon Airways (ANA) is resuming their Tokyo flights into the Silicon Valley, providing a direct link from the bay area to northern Asia. I was lucky enough to be invited on this flight by ANA to help celebrate this re-introduction [ANA only flew the 787 for only a few days into SJC before the aircraft was grounded].
This flight into San Jose also sees the reintroduction of the 787 to international skies for ANA, who operate the world’s largest fleet of Dreamliners. As NH1076 touched down at San Jose a few minutes ahead of schedule, the gate area was quiet, the staff scurried around preparing for the flights arrival. This could’ve been any flight on any other day, but it wasn’t.
NH1076 touches down at San Jose after the 10 hour flight from Tokyo – Photo: Mal Muir | AirlineReporter.com
The local media, a few select aviation bloggers, a couple AvGeeks, and some passengers who did not know the significance of the flight were in attendance. JA806A arrived at San Jose with only 44 of the 156 seats on-board filled and would return to Tokyo’s Narita Airport as NH1075 with 110 passengers.
BONUS: Destination: Traveling to Tokyo, Japan. Photos, Tips and Hints.
The aircraft, configured with 110 seats in economy and 46 in business, utilizes the airline’s newest on-board product: ’œInspiration of Japan.’
San Jose Airport & ANA Staff wave farewell to NH1075 as it departs for Tokyo – Photo: Mal Muir | AirlineReporter.com
’œANA is pleased to be back at Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport to operate the Boeing 787. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that we have caused to our customers while the grounding of the aircraft’ said Yuji Hirako; Vice President of ANA Americas, as passengers were lined up to board the aircraft prior to departure.
BONUS: Flying on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the First Time
The aircraft boarded quickly even though guests were snapping away, taking photos of the new composite wings, larger windows and signature Boeing Sky Interior. As the aircraft pushed back from Gate 15, San Jose and ANA Ground staff lined the taxi way to wave us farewell.
As the aircraft leapt into the sky off runway 30R, it starts the beginning of an adventure for some of those on-board, but also sees a return to normal operation for a Dreamliner that has had a rough start in 2013.
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This story written by…Malcolm Muir, Lead Correspondent.
Mal is an Australian Avgeek now living and working in Seattle. With a passion for aircraft photography, traveling and the fun that combining the two can bring. Insights into the aviation world with a bit of a perspective thanks to working in the travel industry. |
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