All Nippon Airways (ANA) Wednesday announced that it is going to start a direct flight from Japan to Chennai in winter this year.
The airline stated that it is taking steps to meet growing demands in Asia by expanding its routes and the direct flight to Chennai will mark a decisive move towards Asia-Oceania for ANA as the airline looks to capitalise on a massive growth across the region.
The addition of Chennai brings the total number of ANA destinations to 46.
ANA General Manager India Yasuo Taki stated: "It is hard to ignore the growth potential of Chennai and when the nearby cities of Bangalore and Hyderabad are factored in, the case for expansion becomes overwhelming.
He added: "We look forward to offering service to Chennai in the years to come and hope we can play a part in bringing the best of this dynamic city to the world."
While Bangalore and Hyderabad are bases for IT, Chennai is primarily known for its auto industry. The city is also the second largest port in India, making it an important trade hub.
"These factors and more will make it a significant base for cargo as well as passenger transportation," ANA said in its statement.
ANA has projected that its international passenger flights would be a large driver of revenue this year and beyond and therefore, it has selected key cities for its latest routes.
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