ANA Cargo flew the inaugural flight to ORD with its second 777F (65757). (Photo: ANA Cargo)

Japan-based ANA Cargo today commenced long-haul freighter operations with its own 777F aircraft. The carrier deployed its second of two 777Fs (65757) for the first flight on the new route between Tokyo (NRT) and Chicago (ORD).

ANA Cargo told Cargo Facts that today’s inaugural flight carried approximately 80 tonnes of freight, consisting mainly of cars, automotive parts, electronics and garments. Apart from this flight, which is operated by ANA with its own 777Fs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, ANA has also contracted with Western Global Airlines and Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) for space on their flights between NRT and ORD.

According to ANA Cargo’s winter 2019 timetable, which just came into effect on Oct. 27, Western Global will be flying one of its two 747-400BCFs on Mondays and Sundays via Portland (PDX), while NCA will be doing the same with a 747-8F on Wednesdays and Fridays, via Anchorage (ANC). This effectively enables ANA Cargo to provide a daily maindeck offering between NRT and ORD through the end of March 2020.

ANA placed the order for the two 777Fs in March 2018. Unit 65757 was delivered in June 2019, while its sibling (65756) arrived in Japan in May. Until now, they had been flying from NRT to Osaka (KIX) and Shanghai (PVG).

The carrier’s results for the six months ended Sept. 30, 2019 showed that its cargo traffic and revenue for both international and domestic markets fell. In particular, international cargo revenue was 20.4% lower year-on-year. ANA attributed the performance to a decline in demand from Japan and overseas because of the slowdown in the global economy, caused by factors including the U.S.-China trade conflict. Cargo traffic between the two countries is a major focus for ANA.