Nagasaki Airport Building (NABIC) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) conducted the “First Sunrise Charter Flight” on New Year’s Day 2025 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Nagasaki Airport.
ANA has implemented sunrise flights departing from and arriving at Nagasaki Airport in 2022 and 2023, making this the third year. The collaboration between Nagasaki Airport Building and ANA for this flight marks a first. As Nagasaki Airport celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, being the world’s first airport on the sea, the flight was operated as the first project of the commemorative anniversary.
Participants in the First Sunrise Charter Flight were selected through a lottery conducted by Nagasaki Airport Travel Services, which received 311 applications for 870 people, with 147 being selected to participate. Normally, Nagasaki Airport opens at 6:15 AM, but for the sunrise charter flight, reception started at 5:00 AM. According to officials, this sunrise charter flight also had an experimental significance for the 24-hour operation of Nagasaki Airport.
After passing security, attendees received commemorative gifts such as boarding certificates and snacks from Nagasaki Airport Building and ANA. A local specialty of Ōmura city where the airport is located, “Ōmura sushi,” was served, and upon disembarking, passengers were given a special event bag containing items like castella cake from Bunmeido.
In the restricted area, a booth was set up where participants could draw a fortune from the Tomimatsu Shrine located in Ōmura city for free. The chance to draw a New Year’s fortune was especially popular among the sunrise flight participants.
Gate 7 was used for boarding. A commemorative ceremony started at 5:30 AM, with Yū Eto, the president of Nagasaki Airport Building, and Seiji Ejima, the president of ANA Wings operating the flight, taking the stage. Mr. Eto expressed his heartfelt thoughts, saying, “Nagasaki Airport started as the world’s first sea airport on May 1, 1975. Today, as we celebrate the 50th year of Nagasaki Airport, I believe witnessing the first sunrise of 2025 from the skies of Nagasaki will make for an exceptionally special New Year’s Day.”
▲President Yū Eto of Nagasaki Airport Building
President Ejima of ANA Wings said, “Today’s weather is clear, and the conditions are very favorable for enjoying the sunrise flight to the fullest. I hope you will take this opportunity to enjoy the flight,” expressing hope for the event’s success. He also mentioned, “This year, 2025, will see the Expo held in Osaka. We look forward to your continued patronage of journeys throughout Japan and around the world.”
▲President Seiji Ejima of ANA Wings
The commemorative ceremony featured guests from the Kawachi family, active in Nagasaki Prefecture, who performed the popular “celebratory mochi-pounding” adding to the festive atmosphere of New Year’s Day. The mochi made during the event was served to passengers as kinako (sweet soy flour) and anko (red bean) mochi after disembarking.
Boarding started around 6:10 AM, with flight NH2021 using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft (registration number: JA89AN), operated by ANA Wings as mentioned earlier.
Departing at 6:39 AM, flight NH2021 first headed west toward the Goto Islands, then turned north to Tsushima. Sunrise was around 7:14 AM, and passengers enjoyed the first sunrise of the year while the aircraft circled over Tsushima.
Afterwards, the flight passed over Iki Island, then from Fukuoka through the Seto Inland Sea, over Oita from Mt. Aso, and then northward from Kumamoto, offering a view of Unzen and Amakusa before returning to Nagasaki Airport. It was a flight that allowed passengers to enjoy a comprehensive view of tourist spots in northern Kyushu from the air.
In the latter half of the flight, a raffle draw was held. Passengers had the chance to win prizes by drawing lots with their seat numbers, making for an engaging experience for both the staff and passengers.
The ticket prices for the trip were set at 25,000 yen for a standard aisle seat, 50,000 yen for a standard window or middle seat (40,000 yen for a seat over the wing), and 60,000 yen for premium class.
While it remains undecided whether the event will be held next year, the commemoration of Nagasaki Airport’s 50th anniversary this year means Nagasaki Airport Building and ANA plan to continue various commemorative events. (Reported in cooperation with NABIC and ANA)
Notice
This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
