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ANA Adds Three New Pokémon Liveries
ANA’s stable of Pokémon aircraft will grow this year with the addition of three aircraft on the 30th anniversary of the best-selling games Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, first released in early 1996 to critical acclaim, followed by Pokémon Blue later that year. The liveries will each feature the franchise’s most famous character, Pikachu, alongside starter Pokémon associated with each color. For example, Pokémon Jet Red will feature fire-based Pokémon, while Green will have grass-type creatures, and Blue is expected to feature the water-type.
These starter Pokémon — which players receive at the beginning of the game to join their squad — include beloved first-generation Pokémon all the way up to the newest starter creatures from Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves. Along with the special liveries, customers onboard each plane can enjoy other unique touches, such as limited-edition cups, napkins and headrest covers tailored to each aircraft. ANA said,
“It is the 30th anniversary of the release of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green in 1996, and the 40th anniversary of the launch of ANA International flights. To celebrate this momentous double anniversary, ANA is launching a new project centered around the key concept of “experience the excitement and fun of the journey with Pokémon.”
How To Fly On ANA’s New Pokémon Jets
The first aircraft, Pokémon Jet Red, will make its debut in late July on several domestic routes to and from 
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) and Osaka Itami (ITM). The 787-8 — a 13-year-old airframe delivered to ANA in May 2013 — bears the registration JA819A. The aircraft features a high-density layout of 12 business class and 323 economy seats, accommodating a total of 335 passengers.
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Hub |
Destinations |
|---|---|
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Tokyo Haneda (HND) |
Sapporo New Chitose (CTS), Hakodate (HKD), Osaka Itami (ITM), Takamatsu (TAK), Matsuyama (MYJ), Hiroshima (HIJ), Fukuoka (FUK), Nagasaki (NGS), Kagoshima (KOJ), Naha (OKA), Miyako (MMY), New Ishigaki (ISG) |
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Osaka Itami (ITM) |
Sapporo New Chitose (CTS), Naha (OKA), Miyako (MMY), New Ishigaki (ISG) |
The carrier has not released its schedule for Pokémon Jet Green yet, but said the aircraft will be active on international routes, with a confirmed launch date and route map coming soon. This aircraft is a 787-9 with registration JA923A — this aircraft is less than seven years old and features a more premium-dense configuration, seating 40 in business class, 14 in premium economy and 192 in economy, seating a total of 246 passengers.
As for Pokémon Jet Blue, the airline is keeping the design under wraps at this stage, although it has confirmed that a 737-800 will sport the upcoming livery and will fly on domestic routes. ANA’s 737-800 can seat up to 166 passengers, with eight in business class and 158 in economy.
Planes Were Just The Beginning: The World’s First Pokémon Airport Is Now Taking Off
The theming will be in place until 2029.
A Look At Other Pokémon Jets
Having partnered with The Pokémon Company since 1998, ANA has garnered worldwide acclaim for its range of Pokémon jets, numbering over ten aircraft over the decades. As it stands, ANA has only two Pokémon jets in service today — a Pikachu 787-9 and an Eevee Boeing 777-300ER — but has flown several others in the past, including its “Pikachu Jumbo” Boeing 747 retired in 2013, and even introduced a Pokémon safety video.
ANA is not the only airline to team up with Pokémon — according to Flightradar24, there are a total of seven airlines flying Pokémon-themed jets today, including a Boeing 767 operated by Air Do, two aircraft with China Airlines, a Garuda Indonesia 737-800, and a Scoot 787-9. ANA has also introduced a series of Star Wars-themed jets over the years, along with its iconic ‘Flying Honu’ Airbus A380s, each featuring a unique sea turtle design flown on its busy Tokyo-Honolulu route.
