ANA Launches NFT Marketplace

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Japan’s largest airline group ANA has launched an aviation-themed non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace on the Ethereum blockchain. Its first collection features NFT images of two digital 3D airplanes created by aerial photographer Luke Ozawa.

The NFT marketplace supports the MetaMask wallet and payment with fiat currency via credit card. It follows a similar launch by TravelX, which partnered with Spanish airline Air Europa to create NFT tickets linked to special perks and events.

ANA GranWhale NFT MarketPlace

Japan’s top airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has just made a significant foray into the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by launching an aeronautical-themed NFT marketplace through its virtual platform subsidiary ANA NEO. The new platform will launch an inaugural collection featuring the work of aerial photographer Luke Ozawa. Each NFT will be bundled with a film, which is the original source of photo development, and sold at an auction starting at 100,000 yen ($715).

In a press release, ANA said it plans to use NFTs as “digital assets” to enhance the value of its services. The company is also aiming to promote its NFT business through the virtual travel platform ANA GranWhale, which utilizes virtual reality technology to recreate destinations and cultures from around the world in the metaverse.

ANA is not the first airline to make a foray into the NFT space. Last March, Argentinian low-cost airline Flybondi partnered with NFT ticketing platform TravelX to allow its flight tickets to be issued as NFTs on the Algorand blockchain. But ANA is the first major airline to launch an NFT marketplace and a full metaverse experience.

ANA NEO President Mitsuo Tomita envisions that the ANA GranWhale NFT MarketPlace will serve as a metaverse tourism destination for airlines and their customers. The company is working with various partners to add additional content to the platform, including Sky Park, a travel-themed metaverse park; Sky Mall, a shopping space; and Sky Village, a visionary area inspired by future cities. The ANA NFT MarketPlace supports MetaMask wallets and credit card payments. Additional collections, such as NFT representations of the airline’s Boeing 787 aircraft, are slated for release soon. The ANA GranWhale NFT Marketplace is available online, with a mobile app slated for launch in 2022. ANA is also working with NFT remittance service AirTree to offer virtual currency to its customers. The service will begin operating in early 2023, with an aim to support a total of five NFT-based currencies.

ANA GranWhale NFT Collection

The airline is launching its first NFT marketplace called ANA GranWhale, which will feature aviation photography and digital collectables on the Ethereum blockchain. The platform will allow customers to purchase the items using their MetaMask wallet or fiat currency via a credit card.

The inaugural collection features a set of six exclusive NFTs created by Luke Ozawa, an aerial photographer whose work has been featured on the cover of numerous magazines over the course of his illustrious career. Each NFT is a digitized representation of one of Ozawa’s photographs that was minted into an image on film, which would have otherwise been used for photo development.

Starting on May 30, the airline will also offer NFTs of two 3D models of ANA’s Boeing 787, which will be released in June 7. Both NFT products will be sold at 7,870 yen each.

NFTs are non-fungible virtual assets that can be traded on the Ethereum blockchain, allowing for more secure and transparent transactions. They’re becoming increasingly popular among airlines, with AirBaltic and Etihad both releasing NFT collections of aircraft-themed digital cartoons, while Argentinian low-cost airline flyBondi partnered with NFT ticketing company TravelX to issue its e-tickets as NFTs on the Algorand blockchain.

Founded in 1952, ANA is Japan’s largest airline group with revenues of $12.2 billion last year. The airline operates a fleet of more than 180 aircraft, and is the global launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 69 jets in service and a total of 77 on order. The carrier’s parent company, ANA HOLDINGS, is a holding company that manages the operations of ANA and Peach Aviation, as well as various other businesses. ANA HOLDINGS is based in Tokyo and employs over 6,700 people worldwide. The airline is part of Star Alliance, with codeshare agreements with 29 partner airlines and an extensive network of destinations across Asia, Europe and North America.

 

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