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Why didn't Japan go for the A380 for domestic routes? Back in the 80s and 90s, JAL and ANA ran 500+ seat 747SRs/747-400Ds* on routes like HND-CTS, HND-FUK, ITM-HND, ITM-OKA, HND-OKA**, etc. But they didn't replace them with domestic A380s.
> JAL uses 767s and 777s for trunk routes, and on the smaller routes, a fleet of ex-JAL Express 737s plus a divvy of prop planes (although 737s are used on trunk routes too)
As for ANA...
> ANA is a mess. For the trunk routes, they use 767s and 777s, some of which were converted from international -ERs. For smaller routes, A320, 737-500/700/800. The 767s and 777s will slowly be replaced by domestic 787-8s, 787-9s, and future 777-9X. Smaller routes will get the A320neo and MRJ 90 (I think some of the converted international planes were due to delivery delays for the 787 and MRJ).
ANA *will* receive three A380s in 2019, but they'll be for international flights; more specifically the NRT-HNL route. The "Flying Honu" A380s will be 4-class with a layout of F8/J56/C73/Y383, or 520 seats in all. JAL and ANA have both rejected outright the idea of buying anything bigger (747-8i, more A380-800s, A380plus, etc.) in the future.
So, what's the deal? I thought Japan would be a great market for A380s.