ANA - All Nippon Airways (NH, Tokyo Haneda) is set to dissolve a loss-making alliance with Malaysia's AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International) following the announcement that ANA plans to buy AirAsia's 49% stake in AirAsia Japan (Nagoya Chubu) for USD25.1million (JPY2.45billion). According to Reuters, the two-year old venture has failed to win over Japanese passengers with ANA blaming "ineffective marketing and a non user friendly booking website." AirAsia claimed that "differences in opinion on issues ranging from cost management to where the business should be based" contributed to the breakup. Overall, the failed venture is estimated to have cut ANA's operating profit by about JPY3.5billion during its most recent financial year. ANA's senior vice president, Shinzo Shimizu, said come July, his airline would choose a name, business plan and fleet strategy for its former AirAsia venture, which it intends to operate as a wholly owned unit, though a merger with ANA subsidiary, Peach Aviation (MM, Osaka Kansai), is also a distinct possibility. AirAsia Japan currently operates four A320-200s belonging to AirAsia though all will have to be returned by November 1.