It is, however, a subsidiary.
The company was founded by ANA,
Japan Airlines and
TOA Domestic as
Nippon Kinkyori Kōkū (日本近距離航空
?, lit.
Japan Short-Distance Airline) in March
1974 and started operations on 10 October 1974. The name
Air Nippon was adopted in
1987, and the abbreviation ANK comes from the full, somewhat redundant name
Air Nippon Kabushiki kaisha (lit.
Air Nippon joint stock corporation.).[
citation needed]
As part of ANA's reorganisation, Air Nippon's domestic operations are being consolidated into the main airline. ANA and Air Nippon used different liveries and IATA codes on domestic flights until April 2004, when Air Nippon adopted ANA livery and ANA flight numbers. As an ANA subsidiary, it is considered a full
Star Alliance member. However, on
Republic of China flights before April 2008, Air Nippon's IATA code EL was still used due to political reasons and these flights are not considered being Star Alliance flights.[
citation needed]
(From Wikipedia)