ANA to operate special charter flight to Iwo Jima in 2026

All Nippon Airways (ANA) will operate a special charter flight from Haneda Airport to Iwo Jima on November 19, 2026. The flight is part of a memorial service project organized by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to honor war dead.

ANA secured the contract through a general competitive bidding process for the first phase of the Iwo Jima war dead memorial and remains collection project. The scheduled itinerary includes a morning departure from Haneda, arrival at Iwo Jima, and a return flight to Haneda on the same day.

As Iwo Jima is currently operated as a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force base, there are no commercial scheduled flights to the island. The aircraft will utilize the Iwo Jima Air Base runway. Due to the lack of commercial refueling and ground support facilities at the base, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has specified that the aircraft must carry sufficient fuel for a round trip without refueling and be equipped with necessary maritime communication gear.