ANA Holdings announced to have acquired all shares of Nippon Cargo Airlines on August 1, positioning the group as Japan's largest combination passenger and cargo carrier.
NCA entered into a strategic business partnership with ANA in 2018, and has since deepened its relationship with the airline through aircraft maintenance and code-sharing.
Nippon Cargo Airlines' Japan-Europe and U.S. routes along with the ANA Group's international network is expected to become an expanded global cargo network.
Japanese giant ANA Holdings has successfully completed the acquisition of Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) on August 1, following the necessary approvals from regulatory bodies.
ANA Holdings Inc. finally received approval from China's competition regulator to acquire Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) , following a series of delays. In a press release, it said:
After obtaining approval from the relevant authorities, ANA Holdings (ANA HD) acquired all shares of Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) through a simplified share exchange with Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha on August 1.
This Chinese approval, however, comes with binding conditions designed to safeguard fair competition in the strategic air cargo market between China and Japan.
Although ANA's acquisition announcement dates back to 2023, the transaction has been postponed eight times, most recently as recently as last Wednesday, due to delays in regulatory approval.
With Chinese approval finally secured, ANA plans to complete the purchase of NCA, currently owned by Nippon Yusen KK—Japan's largest shipping company.
This enhancement will not only significantly strengthen the Group's position as Japan's largest combination carrier but also elevate the ANA Group to the world's 14th largest airline group based on cargo transport weight.
NCA became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Yusen in 2010, but was previously operated with investments from multiple operators, including ANA, which was a major shareholder until it transferred its NCA shares to Nippon Yusen in 2005.
ANA and NCA have had a cooperative relationship for some time, including aircraft maintenance and code-sharing. In the past, a Boeing 747 aircraft retired by ANA was converted into a freighter and added to NCA's fleet.
The acquisition announcement was made on March 7, 2023, but the execution date for the share acquisition was set as October 1, 2023, or a date separately agreed upon by the two companies.
Koji Shibata, president and CEO of ANA HD, stated:
“Integrating NCA’s specialized cargo expertise with our existing infrastructure will considerably enhance our ability to meet customer demands,”
“We are dedicated to utilizing this expanded capacity for delivering outstanding value in global cargo transport solutions.”
ANA Group's cargo business has been developed by owning and operating Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 freighters, as well as utilizing its passenger flight network. Many of the Boeing 767 freighters have been converted from passenger aircraft, and are aging.
Currently, ANA operates six Boeing 767 freighters alongside two Boeing 777s while NCA boasts eight Boeing 747-8 freighters in its fleet. This partnership is set to enhance transport capabilities between japan and key regions like Asia, Europe, and North america.
The ANA Group aims to support customers in optimizing their supply chains or business opportunities, aiming to deliver added value through cargo transport.
