In a move that signals its foray into the realm of Web3 and airlines, Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has launched an NFT marketplace in collaboration with its subsidiary, ANA Neo.

Named the “ANA GranWhale NFT Marketplace,” the platform will showcase an inaugural collection by renowned aerial photographer Luke Ozawa. According to the developers, Ozawa’s first digital photo will be converted into an NFT, with one copy being sold along with the original positive film used for photo development. This unique piece will be auctioned off with a price tag of 100,000 yen.

The second collection of NFTs, set to be released on June 7, will feature the NFT representation of ANA’s first Boeing 787 aircraft. These NFTs will be offered as 3D model airplanes, with a total of 1,574 items available in two different types, priced at 7,870 yen each.

ANA, with a substantial revenue of $12.2 billion in its previous fiscal year, intends to expand its NFT product line in the future, aiming to enhance the value of the customer experience through NFT commercialization.

The development of ANA Neo’s GranWhale initiative began in August of last year, focusing on creating a virtual travel platform that utilizes technologies like virtual reality (VR) to recreate global destinations and cultures within metaverse parks. Mitsuo Tomita, the president of ANA Neo, explained that the company’s logo symbolizes the merger of the virtual and the real, representing ANA GranWhale’s journey towards a future where Web 3.0 and metaverse travel become increasingly commonplace.

With the launch of the ANA GranWhale NFT Marketplace, ANA solidifies its position at the intersection of the airline industry and the evolving world of NFTs, signaling its commitment to embracing innovative technologies and providing unique experiences to its customers.