ANA To Build 3rd Meal Plant Ahead Of Ramped-Up Air Service

TOKYO (Nikkei)--All Nippon Airways Co. plans to spend 10 billion yen to build a facility for making in-flight meals in preparation for increased international flights once a new runway at Haneda airport is completed in October 2010.

The in-flight-meal plant, ANA's third, is expected to churn out 10,000 meals a day and will include cutting-edge kitchen equipment and bread ovens. It will be south of the airport and is slated for completion in September 2010.

All Nippon Airways plans to build a new factory for making in-flight meals.

From next year, the government is expected to allow late-night flights to and from Europe, Canada, Thailand and other locations at Haneda airport. And ANA has set its sights on debuting international flights from the hub. Meals for the increased services will be made at the new plant, which could also prepare food for overseas airlines using Haneda airport.

ANA currently needs some 24,000 meals a day for its international flights. Its two existing plants make a total of 12,000 of these a day for flights leaving from Haneda and Narita airports. Overseas flights returning home to Japan are stocked with meals procured from local companies. The bulk of the 2,000 meals required on domestic routes are made at the plant in Tokyo's Ota Ward.

(The Nikkei June 3 morning edition)