ANA Holdings is preparing to consolidate its three main cargo businesses — ANA Cargo, Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) and NCA Japan — as part of a broader restructuring of its air freight operations following its acquisition of NCA in August 2025.
The integration is scheduled for April 2027 and is intended to combine ANA’s passenger aircraft belly capacity and freighter operations with NCA’s dedicated freighter network. ANA says the move will strengthen the competitiveness of its cargo business and generate greater operational and commercial synergies.
Under the planned structure, the three businesses are expected to operate under the ANA Nippon Cargo brand, with the new branding scheduled to take effect from April 1. The legal company name is expected to change later in the 2027 financial year, according to the announcement.
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Integration follows NCA acquisition
ANA Holdings completed the acquisition of 100% of NCA on August 1, 2025, making the Japanese dedicated freighter operator a wholly owned subsidiary. ANA said the combination would allow it to bring together its extensive international passenger network with NCA’s widebody freighter fleet.
ANA’s current international cargo strategy is built around using the strengths of both operations. Its passenger network provides substantial belly capacity, while NCA contributes a dedicated freighter network covering Asia, North America and Europe.
The group’s latest strategy documents identify the integration of its cargo entities, facility consolidation and systems integration as key elements of its cargo restructuring programme. ANA is targeting ¥30 billion in integration synergies.
Sales and handling operations already being combined
The planned corporate integration follows a series of measures already implemented between ANA and NCA.
From April 2026, the two airlines introduced changes to their cargo sales structure, including a single sales window in a number of markets. Customers can access ANA and NCA flight capacity through the revised sales arrangements, while the two carriers continue to operate their respective flights separately.
Warehouse operations have also begun to converge. NCA transferred its cargo warehouse operation at Kansai International Airport to an ANA Cargo facility from April 1, 2026.
Further consolidation is planned outside Japan, beginning with inbound cargo operations at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. ANA is also considering additional integration of domestic and international warehouse operations and sales structures.
Network and operational synergies
ANA sees the combination of its passenger network with NCA’s dedicated freighter fleet as a way to improve the balance of cargo capacity between Asia, North America and Europe.
Its current plans call for greater use of large freighters on North American and European routes, while medium-sized freighters and passenger belly capacity will continue to serve Asian markets. ANA has also identified semiconductors, heavy machinery and other high-value cargo as growth areas.
The company says the restructuring is ultimately aimed at creating a more integrated cargo operation spanning sales, capacity management, flight operations and cargo handling.
ANA has previously described the combination of ANA and NCA as a way to create a stronger “combination carrier” model, giving the group greater flexibility to adjust freighter capacity in response to fluctuations in cargo demand.
The planned 2027 integration represents the next major stage in ANA’s effort to consolidate its cargo activities following the NCA acquisition and could reshape the competitive position of the group’s international freight business.
