All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, has entered the world of nonfungible tokens (NFTs) with the launch of its own NFT marketplace in collaboration with its subsidiary, ANA Neo. The platform, named “ANA GranWhale NFT Marketplace,” aims to explore the convergence of airlines and Web3 technology.
The inaugural collection on the marketplace features the works of renowned aerial photographer Luke Ozawa. One of his digital photos will be converted into an NFT and sold at an auction, with the added bonus of including the positive film used in its development. The starting price for this unique NFT is set at 100,000 yen.
Further expanding its NFT offerings, ANA plans to release a second collection on June 7, featuring NFT images of the first Boeing 787 operated by the airline. These NFTs will be sold as 3D model airplanes, with a total of 1,574 items available at a price of 7,870 yen each.
ANA aims to enhance the customer experience and add value through the commercialization of NFTs. With revenues of $12.2 billion in its last fiscal year, the airline intends to expand its NFT product line in the future.
ANA Neo’s GranWhale project, which began development in August of the previous year, focuses on creating a virtual travel platform using technologies like virtual reality (VR) to recreate global destinations and cultures in metaverse parks. ANA Neo President Mitsuo Tomita envisions a future where Web 3.0 and metaverse travel become increasingly prevalent, symbolized by the ANA GranWhale’s logo, which represents the fusion of the virtual and the real.
