All Nippon Airways (ANA) has presented the first commercial routes for its latest ‘Pikachu Jet NH’, a Boeing 787-9 with a special, colorful livery depicting the characters of the Pokémon universe (the ‘NH’ being a reference to ANA’s IATA designator).
The aircraft will operate the route between Tokyo Haneda airport (HND) and Bangkok (BKK) starting June 4, 2023.
The Pikachu-themed livery will not be the only special aspect of this aircraft: the cabin attendants’ aprons, plus several other elements throughout the cabin, such as paper cups, headrests and the welcome music, have been inspired by the fictional character.
Passengers on that inaugural flight will also get a wooden tag, stickers and a boarding certificate to mark the occasion.
ANA has a long tradition of a succession of Pokémon-themed aircraft. Since 1998, at least ten other jets have been decorated in this fashion.
Nor is ANA the only Japanese airline to have done so. In June 2021, Skymark also unveiled a Pokémon-themed Boeing 737-800.
ANA has regularly drawn inspiration from distinctive topics in order to create ‘families’ of specially liveried aircraft.
Among the most remarkable examples are the three aircraft in its Star Wars series, two of which are still in service as of April 2023. These aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 and a Boeing 777-200, are decorated with motifs from the famous science-fiction saga.
The natural world of Hawaii inspired another series of ANA’s eye-catching liveries, namely a trio of Honu A380 aircraft painted like Hawaiian sea turtles that the Japanese carrier uses on its flights between Japan and Honolulu (HNL).
