Japanese carrier, All Nippon Airways (ANA), is a source of some refreshingly ‘normal’ airline news this week, as it has revealed a range of new services launching at Tokyo Haneda Airport on 29 March. These services, located at the Terminal 2 international area, include three new lounges, self-service baggage drops and enhanced security check procedures. Furthermore, since some ANA international flights will be departing from or arriving to the same terminal as the domestic flights, passengers who have connections will be able to transit more smoothly.
ANA’s new lounges, named ‘ANA Suite Lounge’, ‘ANA Lounge’ and ‘ANA Arrival Lounge’ were designed by the renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, aligning with the ichigo ichie (Japanese for ‘treasure every encounter as if it were once in a lifetime’) design concept that was also used in the design of new ANA’s new lounges in Narita International Airport. Kuma was also involved in the design of ANA’s redesigned B777-300ER aircraft interiors.
Inspired by Japanese heritage, the departure and arrival lounges will have seating for approximately 1,300 passengers, and traditional architectural design incorporating natural blue colours, ambient lighting and traditional art. Both the ANA Suite Lounge and ANA Lounge are open from 05:00 until the last flight of the day departs.
ANA Suite Lounge
With 360 seats, the ANA Suite Lounge is large and spacious, balancing traditional Japanese design with modern influences, with metal mesh partitions inspired by Japan’s shoji partitions. These elegant partitions divide the lounge into several distinct areas while preserving a unified theme.
Guests arrive in style at a reception area featuring a traditional Japanese garden and a bamboo forest, creating a calm and spacious atmosphere. The reception will also include wheelchair-accessible counter space to provide convenience for passengers with disabilities.
A particular highlight is the Live Kitchen on the third floor, where chefs will prepare passengers’ food orders right in front of them. The morning menu will include a selection of omelettes with a choice of toppings and a dinner selection of nigiri sushi, prepared by a skilled sushi chef. This luxury dining area also offers a noodle bar, a la carte dishes and a traditional restaurant-style dining area called ‘Dining h’.
The ANA Suite Lounge also features a bar counter on the fourth floor, where passengers can sit in front of a barista or a bartender. In the morning hours, beverages such as coffee and espresso will be freshly made by the barista, while in the afternoon a bartender will prepare a drink menu consisting of over 20 cocktails, wine, Japanese sake and more.
The fourth floor is also home to a napping area with six beds and five reclining chairs that guests can use to rest while waiting for their flight. Adjacent to the napping area is a private area with booths featuring televisions so that guests can relax and enjoy entertainment.
ANA Lounge
The spacious ANA Lounge will accommodate up to 900 guests, with an open layout surrounded by windows for natural light. As with the Suite Lounge, at the buffet area, chefs will cook the meals as they are served. The buffet will also feature a noodle bar.
l This lounge will also feature a booth seating area where passengers can enjoy a drinks menu featuring a selection of over 20 cocktails, wine, Japanese sake and more.
In order to make the lounges more enjoyable for passengers with children, there is also a kids’ room where small children can play in a safe and secure environment.
ANA Arrival Lounge
Open from 04:30 to 12:30, the ANA Arrival Lounge has been designed with passenger comfort in mind. The design concept has an open floor plan, creating an area surrounded by large windows. The reception also includes wheelchair-accessible counter space to improve convenience for passengers with disabilities.
Light meals and beverages will be served at the lounge. There will be total of 18 shower rooms for the passengers to freshen up before they embark on the next leg of their journey. Out of the 18 shower rooms, two are designed to facilitate easier use for passengers who need assistance. The lounge will also feature a footbath area with a view of the ocean beyond the runway, providing a space where passengers can relax and experience a moment of tranquility at the airport.
Self-service baggage drop
Starting March 29, 2020, self-service baggage drops will be available for those travelling on international ANA flights out of Haneda Airport Terminal 2. These machines will streamline the baggage check-in process and feature language support in seven languages: Japanese, English, Chinese (both Traditional and Simplified), Korean, French and German. The airport will have 13 machines on the third-floor departure lobby, for a total of 26 self-service baggage drop-off lanes.
The security area will also be streamlined through the use of 10 smart, efficient lanes that are capable of simultaneously meeting the needs of four passengers as they prepare for screening to shorten passenger waiting times.
ANA is also introducing different types of check-in counters. ANA’s First Class passengers and Diamond members will have exclusive access to a private check-in counter. In addition, steps have been taken to streamline check-in for passengers who need special assistance with the inclusion of wheelchair-accessible counter space.
* Photos by Japan Airport Terminal Co Ltd
