ANA and Japan Airlines maintain strong competition on transpacific routes, particularly for passengers connecting from China to North America via Japan. According to Japans Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism 2025 data, the two carriers control 68% of this transfer market.
ANA serves 17 North American destinations, including Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto, with through-checked bags from Shanghai and Beijing on 90-minute minimum connections at Narita or Haneda. JAL covers 14 cities but offers direct flights from more Chinese cities such as Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Tianjin, with 75-minute connections at Kansai Airport.
In premium economy, ANAs 94-centimeter seat pitch exceeds JALs 86 centimeters on 787 aircraft. Economy classes feature similar 79–81 centimeter pitch and 12-inch screens, though ANA reports 78% meal satisfaction versus JALs 74% in 2025 surveys and provides a complimentary 30-minute WiFi pass on select flights.
Frequent flyer programs differ by alliance: ANAs Mileage Club in Star Alliance pairs with Air China and others, while JALs Mileage Bank in oneworld aligns with American Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Economy awards cost 70,000–80,000 miles round-trip on ANA and 68,000–78,000 on JAL; business requires 120,000–150,000 and 115,000–140,000 miles, respectively.
Off-peak economy fares ranged from $620 to $980 round-trip in 2025, with peak prices reaching $1,100–$2,100. ANAs early-bird business promotion started at about $4,900, undercutting JALs equivalent. FlightStats data shows ANA at 91.3% on-time arrivals versus JALs 88.7% on transpacific routes. JAL holds advantages in Kansai frequencies and certain aircraft like the A350-1000 business class.