Air Central

Air Central was a Japanese regional airline based in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, and operating primarily from Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya. It functioned as an ANA-affiliated commuter carrier, operating scheduled passenger flights under the ANA brand rather than presenting itself as a large independent network airline. Its role was to connect regional Japanese airports with important ANA hubs and to feed traffic into domestic and international services at Centrair and other airports. The company’s corporate background lay in the regional aviation activities developed around Nagoya. Nakanihon Airlines was established on May 12, 1988, as a joint venture between Nagoya Railroad and All Nippon Airways. Scheduled commuter operations began on April 23, 1991. The venture built on an earlier aviation organization, Nakanihon Air Service, which had been founded in 1953 and carried out general-aviation activities such as scenic flights, charter operations, aerial photography, and helicopter services. Nakanihon Air Service continued as a separate general-aviation business, while Nakanihon Airlines developed into the scheduled passenger operator. On February 17, 2005, Nakanihon Airlines adopted the Air Central name and moved its base from Nagoya Airport to the newly opened Chubu Centrair International Airport. The relocation reflected ANA’s strategy for using Centrair as a connection point between regional Japanese markets and ANA or Star Alliance international services. Air Central’s schedules were adjusted to make domestic-to-international transfers at Centrair more convenient. The company therefore occupied a strategically important but specialized position within the ANA network: it supplied regional capacity on routes that could be served economically with turboprop aircraft while extending the reach of ANA’s wider schedule. By April 2007, Air Central served a range of destinations across Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Its Centrair routes included Fukuoka, Fukushima, Matsuyama, Narita, Niigata, Tokushima, and Yonago. It also operated services from Osaka Itami to Kochi, Matsuyama, and Niigata; from Fukuoka to Goto-Fukue and Tsushima; and on the Sendai–Narita route. The network combined links between regional cities and major hubs with selected secondary-city connections. Although the airline’s own corporate identity existed, its passenger proposition was closely integrated with ANA through schedules, booking distribution, and ANA livery. The fleet documented for March 2007 consisted of three Fokker 50 aircraft and two De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 aircraft. The Fokker 50s were repainted in ANA livery before retirement, while the Dash 8-400 aircraft were progressively leased and operated in ANA colors. This fleet profile was consistent with Air Central’s regional role, allowing it to serve shorter domestic routes with relatively small turboprop aircraft. Air Central ceased to exist as a separate airline on October 1, 2010, when it was merged with Air Next and Air Nippon Network. The combined operation was rebranded as ANA Wings. The merger consolidated several ANA regional operators under one company and brand, simplifying management and aligning the regional fleet and route structure more closely with the ANA Group. Air Central is therefore best understood as a discontinued regional airline brand and predecessor organization of ANA Wings, rather than as a current independent carrier.

Air Central’s history is rooted in the development of regional aviation around Nagoya. Nakanihon Air Service was established in 1953 near Nagoya Airport, now known as Nagoya Airfield. Its activities included general aviation rather than scheduled airline operations, with scenic and charter flights, aerial photography, and helicopter services among its business lines. The organization continued operating as a general-aviation company. Nakanihon Airlines was founded on May 12, 1988, as a joint venture between Nagoya Railroad and All Nippon Airways. The new airline was headquartered at Nagoya Airport and began scheduled commuter services on April 23, 1991. Its purpose was to provide regional passenger links within the ANA-related network, using smaller aircraft suited to domestic routes with lower demand. On February 17, 2005, Nakanihon Airlines was renamed Air Central. At the same time, the airline relocated its base to Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya. The move was connected with ANA’s interest in using Centrair to support international connectivity, including connections to services operated by ANA and its Star Alliance partners. Air Central adjusted its schedules to make domestic and international transfers more convenient at the airport. The airline’s documented network in April 2007 covered destinations on Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. From Centrair, it served Fukuoka, Fukushima, Matsuyama, Narita, Niigata, Tokushima, and Yonago. It also operated routes from Osaka Itami to Kochi, Matsuyama, and Niigata; from Fukuoka to Goto-Fukue and Tsushima; and between Sendai and Narita. These services connected regional cities with major Japanese hubs and supported the broader ANA schedule. Air Central operated a small turboprop fleet. In March 2007, the fleet comprised three Fokker 50 aircraft and two De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 aircraft. The Fokker aircraft were repainted into ANA livery before retirement, and the Dash 8-400s were progressively leased and also carried ANA colors. This reflected the company’s role as an integrated regional operator within the ANA system rather than a fully independent consumer-facing airline. On October 1, 2010, Air Central was merged with Air Next and Air Nippon Network. The three operations were consolidated and rebranded as ANA Wings. This restructuring ended the Air Central brand while preserving its regional-airline functions within a unified ANA subsidiary.

• 2010

  Operations consolidated into ANA Wings

  [1]Air Central (Japan)en.wikipedia.org

  Air Central was merged with Air Next and Air Nippon Network on October 1 and rebranded as ANA Wings.

• 2007

  Regional network and fleet documented

  [1]Air Central (Japan)en.wikipedia.org

  As of April, Air Central served regional destinations across Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Its March fleet listing comprised three Fokker 50s and two Dash 8-400s.

• 2005

  Nakanihon Airlines becomes Air Central

  [1]Air Central (Japan)en.wikipedia.org

  On February 17, Nakanihon Airlines adopted the Air Central name and moved its base to Chubu Centrair International Airport.

• 1991

  Scheduled commuter operations begin

  [1]Air Central (Japan)en.wikipedia.org

  Nakanihon Airlines began scheduled commuter services on April 23, developing the regional passenger role later associated with Air Central.

• 1988

  Nakanihon Airlines established

  [1]Air Central (Japan)en.wikipedia.org

  Nakanihon Airlines was founded on May 12 as a joint venture between Nagoya Railroad and All Nippon Airways.

• 1953

  Nakanihon Air Service founded

  [1]Air Central (Japan)en.wikipedia.org

  Nakanihon Air Service was established near Nagoya Airport to conduct general-aviation activities including charter, scenic, aerial-photography, and helicopter services.

An ANA-affiliated regional carrier focused on domestic Japanese connectivity, hub feeding, and efficient turboprop operations.

• Passenger airline services · 1991

  Scheduled domestic passenger services

  Air Central operated scheduled domestic flights within Japan, concentrating on regional routes and connections between smaller airports and ANA hubs. Its services covered parts of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, with the airline functioning as an ANA-affiliated feeder and regional capacity provider.

• Regional aviation

  ANA-branded turboprop operations

  The airline used Fokker 50 and Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft for regional passenger operations. Aircraft were progressively presented in ANA livery, reinforcing Air Central’s integration with ANA’s distribution, connecting schedules, and customer-facing network.

• 2010

  Consolidation into ANA WingsM&A

  Background

  ANA had several regional operating companies, including Air Central, Air Next, and Air Nippon Network, performing related commuter-airline functions.

  Action taken

  On October 1, Air Central was merged with Air Next and Air Nippon Network, and the combined operation was rebranded ANA Wings.

  Aftermath

  Air Central ceased operating as a separate brand, while its regional-airline activities became part of ANA Wings.

  Source

• 2005

  Relocation and rebranding around CentrairStrategy

  Background

  ANA sought to use the newly developed Chubu Centrair International Airport as a stronger connection point between regional Japanese markets and international flights operated by ANA and its Star Alliance partners.

  Action taken

  Nakanihon Airlines was renamed Air Central on February 17 and moved its base from Nagoya Airport to Centrair. Schedules were adjusted to improve domestic-to-international transfers.

  Aftermath

  Air Central became a regional feeder within the Centrair-centered ANA network and operated a range of domestic routes from the airport.

  Source

1. 1Air Central (Japan)en.wikipedia.org