ANA Appoints Juichi Hirasawa as New CEO
All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, has announced the appointment of Juichi Hirasawa as its new Chief Executive Officer and President, effective April 1, 2026.
Hirasawa, currently Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President of ANA, will succeed Shinichi Inoue, who has served as CEO since April 2022. The leadership transition was confirmed on February 25, 2026, as part of the airline’s planned management succession.
Inoue, 68, joined ANA in 1990 and led the carrier through a period marked by post-pandemic recovery, network rebuilding, and fleet modernization. During his tenure, ANA strengthened its international operations and advanced strategic initiatives across its passenger and cargo businesses.
Hirasawa brings four decades of experience within the ANA Group. He joined the airline in 1986 and has held a series of senior leadership roles spanning commercial strategy, corporate planning, and operations. As Senior Executive Vice President since 2025 and a member of the airline’s executive board, he has played a key role in shaping ANA’s medium-term growth strategy and operational restructuring efforts.
Upon assuming the top role, Hirasawa will oversee several significant structural changes within the group. These include the folding of AirJapan, ANA’s low-cost subsidiary, into the mainline carrier. The integration is scheduled for completion in March 2026 and is expected to streamline operations and optimize fleet and network deployment.
Hirasawa will also supervise the full integration of Nippon Cargo Airlines, following ANA’s completion of its acquisition in August 2025. The move strengthens ANA’s position in the air freight sector and supports its strategy to balance passenger and cargo revenue streams.
The leadership change comes at a time when ANA is focused on long-term competitiveness, digital transformation, and sustainable growth in both domestic and international markets. With Hirasawa’s extensive internal experience and operational background, the airline is aiming to maintain continuity while advancing its strategic priorities.
ANA has not indicated any immediate changes to its corporate direction, suggesting the transition is designed to reinforce stability as the carrier continues to expand and integrate key business units.
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