ANA, Japan’s largest airline, has announced that two more of its planes will be decorated with "Star Wars" characters as part of an agreement with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. BB-8, a brand new character from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," scheduled for theatrical release in December, will be displayed on the livery of the BB-8 ANA Jet, a Boeing 777-300ER.
ANA also announced the "Star Wars" ANA Jet will showcase both BB-8 and R2-D2 on the outside of a Boeing 767-300. These planes will join the previously announced R2-D2 ANA Jet, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Through this combination of characters, ANA said it hopes to welcome more passengers of all ages from around the world.
ANA launched the "Star Wars" Project in April after signing a five-year promotion license contract for the "Star Wars" brand with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. As part of the agreement, the ANA planes will also display in-flight decorations, such as headrest covers, paper napkins and cups featuring "Star Wars" characters.
The partnership means ANA will be the only airline in the world to offer all six of the currently released "Star Wars" films as part of its extensive in-flight entertainment options on international routes. This will be the first time that any of the "Star Wars" movies have been included as part of an in-flight entertainment system.
The three "Star Wars" Jets will fly international and domestic routes. On October 18, the R2-D2 ANA Jet is scheduled to go into service on international routes, initially as flight NH116 between Tokyo and Vancouver, and then fly between Japan and other cities in ANA’s international network including the U.S. (Seattle and San Jose), Europe (Munich, Paris and Brussels), Australia (Sydney), China (Beijing), and Indonesia (Jakarta).
In November, the "Star Wars" ANA Jet will fly domestic Japanese routes, and then in March 2016 the BB-8 ANA Jet is scheduled to start serving international routes principally between Japan and North America (the exact routes have yet to be announced).
“We’re thrilled to unveil the designs of our new 'Star Wars' themed planes, and I’m sure fans across the world will love the look,” said Osamu Shinobe, President and CEO of ANA.
© Japan Today
6 Comments
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Kurobune
It's called "Keeping up with the Jones'" !
tinawatanabe
I don't want to take a airplane with "Wars" on its body.
JohnDigsJapan
I do look forward to flying in this plane on the NH11/12 route!
Kurobune
Nice avatar, John !
clamenza
Absolutely, Tina.
I also refuse to fly any plane that has "rabid xenophobe" on its fuselage.
SenseNotSoCommon
hear, hear, Tina. Let's have nothing to do with wars!