ANA to Start Helicopter Transfer Service...
...speeding passengers from Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo in 30 minutes
From September 16, ANA First Class passengers arriving back in Tokyo will be offered a complimentary luxury helicopter ride from Narita Airport to the heart of Tokyo in just 30 minutes, thanks to an agreement between ANA and Mori Building City Air Services (MCAS).
Passengers will be whisked by car from Narita Airport on a 15 minute drive to nearby Narita (Sakura) Heliport, from where it is a mere 15 minutes' flight to Ark Hills Heliport in centrally located Akasaka, a cosmopolitan area that is home to multinational companies, embassies, major hotels and retail centers, and famed for its myriad of entertainment and dining options.
"When MCAS set up business in January this year, we saw the perfect opportunity to give our First Class passengers more value, convenience and amenity when returning to Japan," said Shinya Katanozaka, Executive Vice President for Marketing & Sales, and Products & Services Strategy at ANA. "Most of our intercontinental flights arrive mid afternoon in Narita, and many busy executives need to get back into central Tokyo within their working day. This is hopefully a choice that can enhance their lifestyles, not to mention the thrill of flying so closely over one of the world's most exciting and vibrant metropolises," he added.
The service will operate using a cutting-edge Eurocopter EC135 - with an interior designed by Maison Hermes of France - which seats four to five passengers. It will be available until March 31, 2010 and is offered to First Class round-trip passengers returning to Narita on ANA operated flights from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Paris and Frankfurt*.
* Passengers travelling on code-share flights, reward tickets or using certain fare categories are not eligible for this service. First Class is not offered on ANA’s Washington DC flights.
