"The dawn is near, let's move forward with confidence. It's the 70th Anniversary" 2022 ANA Group CEO's New Year's Message (Summary) (Original text)
Happy New Year, everyone. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the ANA Group's founding. The reason why we have been able to grow from just two helicopter companies to a global airline group representing Japan is that our seniors have overcome various difficulties, protected the safety of our customers, and have always taken on challenges. (Photo: Sky LUKE H.OZAWA Dawn Japan / ANA)
Since the beginning of 2020, the ANA Group has been hit by an unprecedented crisis in the form of a loss of passenger demand due to the novel coronavirus that has struck the world, and management continues to be severe. After the outbreak of the situation, we worked on all kinds of measures to improve the bottom line, and once we became a small company, we worked together as a company under the policy of going through the tunnel of the coronavirus. Among them, I would like to express my greatest gratitude for the hard work of ANA Group employees. With the determination to survive this coronavirus, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for continuing to endure the hardships of life and pushing forward with your daily work.
Let's take a look back at the past year. In fiscal 2021, we aimed to return to profitability, but due to the continuation and expansion of the state of emergency, passenger demand significantly lower than planned, and the deficit in the first half of the year was huge, we regrettably revised our earnings forecast to a deficit of 100 billion yen. Our efforts to achieve a surplus have helped us to reduce costs, and we have been able to reduce the deficit by one-fourth from the previous fiscal year, so it is not in vain. With the start of the new year and the remaining three months of this fiscal year, we are aiming to return to operating profitability in the fourth quarter alone, and let's continue to work together to increase sales and profits.
So, everyone, how should we proceed in 2022, the third year of Corona? I would like to state three points that I think.
One. Always know the status of your employees.
Both management and managers continue to engage in dialogue with employees, but the most important thing now is to take their feelings seriously and take concrete actions to overcome this coronavirus.
Two. Dawn is near.
Demand for air travel is on the way to recovery, albeit moderately. There may be a temporary resurgence of infections in the future. But people are moving. You want to move on business. Wanting to go on a trip. Rather than just waiting for a recovery in air travel demand, demand will be created.
Three. Bringing the dawn closer is the underlying strength of our employees.
In conjunction with the formulation of the budget for the next fiscal year, we will start considering the recovery from wage cuts and incorporate it into the plan. Employees are not only interested in employment and wages. Job satisfaction, personal growth, and life plans are also factors that increase motivation.
This time, a bold plan for career development and human resource development is also presented. In order to increase engagement, I would like young employees and frontline employees to participate in reforms by raising their opinions more and more.
The ANA Group has overcome all difficulties with the help of all of us. It is also the power of our employees to bring the dawn closer.
2022, the year of the 70th anniversary, is the Year of the Tiger. Let's bravely face difficulties like a tiger and fly our wings toward the dawn of the world. Together！ Together!
Jan. 4, 2022
ANA Holdings CEO Shinya Katanozaka
