The new president of ANA - All Nippon Airways (NH, Tokyo Haneda), Yuji Hirako, has said that the airline is interested in greater collaboration with Japan Railways Group's high speed train network in order to boost the country's tourism industry. Speaking with Jiji news, Hirako suggested that codesharing could be an option.

Japan's bullet train networks, also known as Shinkansen, consist of almost 3,000 kilometres of rail line throughout Japan, linking major cities across the country. They have generally proven more competitive than air travel on journeys of less than 750 kilometres. In the 2015 fiscal year, Shinkansen carried 340 million passengers, more than three times the number of domestic passengers.

"We can code share with the Shinkansen as a future goal," Hirako said, adding that he would be approaching shareholders to raise the concept.

Codesharing would allow passengers to transit directly from airports to tourist destinations via rail connections, providing easier access for tourists.

Hirako took up the role of President on April 1, succeeding Osamu Shinobe who has moved on to become Vice Chair of ANA Holdings.