All Nippon Airways has revealed a special sea turtle livery for its first Airbus A380, a design selected from more than 2,000 entries submitted in an open competition held by the carrier.
The winning design celebrates the Hawaiian green sea turtle, known locally as the “Honu,” a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Inspired by this animal, ANA has nicknamed its A380s “Flying Honu,” reflecting the turtle-themed paintwork and the airline’s connection to Hawaii.
The A380 bearing the Honu livery will be deployed on a popular leisure route: Tokyo (NRT)–Honolulu (HNL), targeting the strong demand for travel between Japan and Hawaii.
ANA also supports conservation efforts in Hawaii aimed at protecting the green sea turtle, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists as a species at risk.
In 2016 ANA ordered three A380s, becoming the first Japanese airline to add the superjumbo to its fleet; the first delivery was scheduled for early 2019.
“ANA is moving forward with preparations to offer new passenger services to coincide with the introduction of the A380, and will provide updates as they become available,” the carrier said, highlighting plans to enhance the travel experience around the new aircraft.
The A380’s large size gives airlines flexibility to boost revenue while offering high levels of comfort. With roughly 2 million Japanese travelers flying to Hawaii each year, ANA expects the Flying Honu A380 to help it grow market share on this busy leisure corridor.