The head of Japan’s biggest airline has urged the government to ease its strict border controls, which have effectively shut the nation to foreigners, saying they are hurting the economy and the aviation industry.
"There are various problems happening with the situation that foreigners can’t enter Japan,” Yuji Hirako, the president of All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) said in an interview Wednesday. "I hope for eased border controls for the sake of the Japanese economy.”
Earlier Thursday, ANA said Hirako will be replaced as president by Shinichi Inoue effective April 1. At parent company ANA Holdings Inc., Senior Executive Vice President Koji Shibata will succeed Shinya Katanozaka as president.