All Nippon Airways will launch the only direct flights between Japan and Southern India from October when it starts service between Tokyo-Narita and Chennai. The new route will be ANAs third to India along with flights from Narita to Mumbai and Delhi. It will operate Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from October 27  using a 169-seat Boeing 787-8 with 46 seats in business, 21 in premium economy and 102 in economy class. The airline said the expansion would bring the total number of cities it serves to 46 and was the latest in a series of moves to boost its Asia/Oceania network, including the recently announced Narita-Perth service beginning September 1. READ: Pakistan airspace re-opens to commercial flights. “It is always exciting to add a new destination, but it is even more significant to be the only carrier offering connecting this growing region with Japan,” said All Nippon Airways senior vice president Seiichi Takahashi. International passenger service is the main revenue generator for the ANA Group, and we hope to continue improving our market share in this dynamic sector as outlined in our Mid-Term Corporate Strategy for FY2018-2022. “The new Chennai route will bring ANA’s world-class quality travel service to a beautiful and under-serviced region that is home to millions of potential new customers.” While Chennai is the home Hindu temples World heritage listed ruins, it also boasts India’s second-biggest harbor and is a major car manufacturing base. ANA also has its eye on any cargo that can be transported on the new flights. The airline’s expansion plans have included launching A380 flights to Hawaii and buying a 9.5 percent stake in Philippine Airlines. Its Perth service will offer travelers from the city one-stop connections cities such as Seattle and San Jose in the US and Calgary in Canada. In Europe, the airline serves Paris, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, London, and Vienna.