All Nippon Airways has rebranded low-cost subsidiary AirAsia Japan as Vanilla Air following a buyout.

ANA chose for the name for the airline, which was initially a joint venture between ANA and the Malaysia-based AirAsia, as it is “loved by everyone in the world”.

The Japanese carrier now wholly owns the low-cost airline.

“We chose vanilla as our brand name because it is popular and loved by everyone in the world,” ANA president Tomonori Ishii explained.

“I think it is a very cute name.”

Vanilla Air will begin flights in late December with a fleet of two aircraft, to be leased from ANA, and will target travellers heading for holiday resort destinations in Asia.