TOKYO, August 3, 2007 - ANA Group airlines are forecast to carry just over 1.6 million passengers during the peak of the Japanese summer vacation period, which is based around the traditional Obon holiday and this year falls between Friday, August 10 and Sunday, August 19.

On a Group basis, this can be broken down into approximately 1.5 million domestic and approximately 160,000 international passengers for the period.

Compared with last year, international reservations have evidenced a 10% growth and are the highest ever in ANA’s history for the summer vacation peak. North American destinations are leading in popularity with a growth of 31.4% year-on-year.

Within Japan, the southernmost isle of Okinawa has the highest load factor - 79.5% - and is the most popular destination.

Notes for editors
1) Obon is a Japanese Buddhist holiday during which ancestral spirits are said to return to their family homes. It is the peak holiday season of the summer, and falls around the middle two weeks of August.