Air Central (Japan)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Predecessor | Nakanihon Airlines |
| Founded | May 12, 1988 |
| Defunct | October 1, 2010 |
| Fate | Merged with Air Next and Air Nippon Network to form ANA Wings |
| Headquarters | Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture , Japan |
Area served | Japan (domestic regional flights) |
| Parent | All Nippon Airways (ANA) |
Air Central was an airline based in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It provided passenger flights operated under the All Nippon Airways (ANA) brand, primarily from its hub at Chūbu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya. On October 1, 2010, Air Central merged with Air Next and Air Nippon Network, resulting in the creation of ANA Wings.
History
Nakanihon Air Service (NAS) was founded in 1953 close to Nagoya Airport, with major investors including Nagoya Railroad and ANA. NAS specialized in general aviation activities such as sightseeing tours, charter flights, aerial photography, and helicopter services, a sector in which it remains active.
Nakanihon Airlines was established on May 12, 1988, as a collaboration between Nagoya Railroad and ANA, with headquarters at Nagoya Airport. The airline commenced its commuter flight operations on April 23, 1991.
On February 17, 2005, Nakanihon Airlines changed its name to Air Central and moved its base to Chubu Centrair International Airport. The airline's timetable was revised to improve connections between domestic and international flights, aligning with ANA’s strategy to channel passengers into international routes operated by ANA and its Star Alliance partners from Centrair.
Destinations
By April 2007, Air Central offered services linking Nagoya-Centrair with important airports across Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū:
- Fukuoka Airport (FUK), located in Fukuoka
- Fukushima Airport (FKS), near Koriyama
- Matsuyama Airport (MYJ), in Matsuyama
- Narita International Airport (NRT), close to Tokyo
- Niigata Airport (KIJ), situated in Niigata
- Tokushima Airport (TKS), near Tokushima
- Yonago Airport (Miho Airbase YGJ), adjacent to Yonago
From Itami Airport (ITM), routes included:
- Kōchi Airport (KCZ), located in Nankoku
- Matsuyama Airport
- Niigata Airport
Departing from Fukuoka Airport:
Air Central also operated flights between Sendai and Narita.
Fleet
As of March 2007, the airline's fleet consisted of:
- 3 Fokker 50 aircraft, which were repainted in the ANA color scheme before being retired
- 2 leased De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 planes that gradually adopted ANA livery and were subsequently transferred to ANA Wings