Return Flight

　　The last day: We moved to the airport by the usual taxi. Our return flight was an A380 dubbed Flying Honu which meant turtle in Hawaiian. When having left Japan, I saw it, but it was already dark. Taking a close look in the daylight, its face was really cute. I thought that this series of three planes would attract lots of passengers. Currently, the fight to gain customers on the Japan-Hawaii line between the two biggest companies of Japan Airline(JAL) and All Nippon Airways(ANA) broke out. The eye-catchers of ANA were the Flying Honu and the newly-built lounge in Honolulu Airport. This lounge offered lots of dishes and beverages for their passengers and was equipped with facilities for kids and quiet areas for sleepers and those who wanted to spend time silently. Additionally, the washroom would be the cleanest on Oahu island. You can see the taking-off and landing planes from the lounge. This place would be paradise for plane nerds like me. Honolulu Airport is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and is the hub airport of the Ocean. I was able to see various planes from all over the world. Then ANA's competitor of JAL just arrived in Honolulu and appeared abruptly in front of me. Its fuselage was decorated with the faces of the Japanese music group, "Arashi". It was also gorgeous, but looked small against the backdrop of the enormous A380.

帰国の日 

いつものドライバーに迎えに来てもらい空港へ。帰りももちろん空飛ぶウミガメ号で。明るいところで間近に見ると、実に可愛いイラストが描かれている。これは人気が出るだろうなあと思う。実は今日本では、日本を代表する航空会社２社でハワイ路線の乗客の獲得合戦が始まっている。ＡＮＡの目玉がこのＡ３８０と新設されたラウンジ。このラウンジ、料理や飲み物が充実していることは当たり前として、子供専用スペースや、一人静かにくつろぐ場所などがある。トイレはおそらく、オアフ島で一番清潔できれいだと思う。また離着陸する飛行機がよく見える。飛行機好きにはたまらない。太平洋に浮かぶハブ空港。いろいろな国の飛行機がやって来ている。と、その時、対抗するＪＡＬの嵐ジェット登場。人気グループ嵐を機体に描いた機材。ライバルのＡＮＡラウンジの目の前に付けるところ、たいしたものだと思うが、並べると機体の大きさの差は歴然。