Redesigned ANA badge promotes accessible air travel by helping passengers who use sign language easily identify staff trained in communication support. The initiative is part of ANA Group’s broader commitment to barrier-free service and universal accessibility, especially ahead of the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.
A Symbol of Connection and Kindness
The new sign language badge, introduced by the ANA Group, features a symbolic design: a heart formed by two intersecting fingers. This image reflects the universal connection made possible through hands and the compassion embedded in sign language. The updated badge is intended to be easily recognizable, allowing passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing to approach trained staff with confidence and ease.
The redesigned badge will be worn by ANA cabin attendants and airport staff who hold at least level four certification in either the Japanese Sign Language Proficiency Test or the Japanese National Sign Language Certification. This ensures that passengers receive authentic, competent assistance when it comes to sign language communication.
Supporting the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics
The announcement comes as Tokyo prepares to host the 2025 Summer Deaflympics, an international event showcasing athletes with hearing loss. With this milestone approaching, the ANA Group is aligning its service updates to ensure an inclusive experience for all travelers heading to and from Japan. The redesigned badge is just one of many efforts to create “A Sky Welcoming Everyone,” as ANA phrases its accessibility campaign.
Keiji Omae, Executive Vice President of Customer Experience at ANA, emphasized the company’s goals: “The redesigned sign language badge emphasizes our dedication to inclusivity and accessibility for all our passengers. We recognize that seamless communication is essential for fostering connection, and this badge will enable our staff to connect more effectively with customers who rely on sign language.”
Universal Service at Global Standards
The badge redesign is part of a larger accessibility push at ANA. The airline continues to enhance both its physical facilities and its customer experience practices to better serve a wide variety of needs, from different cultural backgrounds to physical or sensory impairments.
ANA’s commitment to inclusivity includes:
- Staff trained in Japanese Sign Language
- Barrier-free facilities at airports and onboard aircraft
- Digital and visual communication tools for diverse needs
- Service quality improvements tailored to international standards
The goal is to ensure every customer—regardless of culture, language, nationality, age, gender, or ability—enjoys a comfortable, inclusive, and stress-free journey.
ANA’s Ongoing Commitment to Inclusion
Founded in 1952, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has grown into Japan’s largest airline and one of the world’s most respected carriers. ANA has received the SKYTRAX 5-Star rating for 12 consecutive years, making it the only Japanese airline to maintain this level of recognition. ANA is also a four-time winner of the ATW Airline of the Year award and a consistent member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and Asia Pacific Index.
ANA Holdings Inc. (ANA HD), established in 2013, includes three major airline brands: ANA, Peach Aviation, and AirJapan. In 2024, AirJapan began operating international routes throughout Asia, offering travelers more options with the same commitment to service quality.
As ANA continues to evolve, accessibility remains at the heart of its operations. The newly designed sign language badge isn’t just a small piece of fabric—it’s a message to the world that everyone is welcome in the skies.
For more information about ANA’s accessibility services, visit the ANA Group website.
