Pokémon Jet


Pokémon Jet refers to a number of aircraft that were operated by Japanese airline All Nippon Airways in a promotional Pokémon livery. The exteriors of the aircraft were painted with pictures of various Pokémon and the interiors were decorated with a Pokémon theme.

History

After the appearance of Pokémon in 1996, and the resultant Pokémon-related craze, All Nippon Airways unveiled the first Pokémon Jets on 1 July 1998, timed with the release of '. The first two to be unveiled were a Boeing 747-400D and a Boeing 767-300, and each displayed a number of the then 151 Pokémon characters, including Pikachu. Due to the popularity of the aircraft, a second 767 was unveiled a matter of weeks later. The three aircraft were introduced on numerous domestic flights in Japan. A fourth aircraft, a Boeing 747-400, was painted in a Pokémon livery in February 1999, and was called the US version by the airline, as it was put into service on the airline's North American network. The aircraft was identical to the previous three aircraft, except the letters ANA were kept on the vertical stabiliser, and operated its first flight to New York City's JFK International Airport on 24 February 1999.
All Nippon Airways announced in March 1999 that a fifth aircraft would be painted in a Pokémon scheme, and a contest was held which saw children between the ages of six and twelve submitting entries. The announcement was timed to coincide with the release of ' in Japan in the summer of 1999. The winning design was rolled out at Osaka on 20 June 1999 on a Boeing 747-400D, with the same design appearing shortly thereafter on two Boeing 767-300s.
In 2011, a Boeing 777-300 was painted in a Pokémon livery featuring characters from the Pokémon Black and White video games. All Nippon Airways had originally intended to allow children to vote on the livery design for this Pokémon Jet, but the voting event was cancelled as a result of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The aircraft has been dubbed the Peace Jet, as the selected livery design is intended to express the wish for a world filled with peace. This Pokémon Jet was placed into service on the airline's domestic network on 18 July 2011, just two days after ' and ' were released at movie theaters in Japan.
October 8, 2013, JA8956 and JA8957 simultaneously retired as the part of the airline's plan to retire all Boeing 747s, leaving JA754A the only Pokémon Jet in service currently.
On April 14, 2016, the Pokémon theming of JA754A was removed, leaving no Pokémon jets in operation.

Passenger experience and response

Passengers on the Pokémon Jets received a complete Pokémania experience. The aircraft and flight crews were decked out in Pokémon themes, including headrests, flight attendant uniforms, food containers, inflight entertainment, and souvenir bags. All Nippon Airways reported that it experienced an increase in the number of passengers carried as a result of operating the Pokémon Jets.

List of Pokémon Jets

PhotoAircraftRegistrationYear
unveiled		Year livery removedYear jet retiredPort
from nose
to tail		Starboard
from nose
to tail
Boeing 747-400DJA896519982001June 2013Clefairy, Pikachu, Togepi, Mew, Mewtwo, SnorlaxJigglypuff, Pikachu, Psyduck, Squirtle, Bulbasaur
Boeing 767-300JA856919982001December 2018Clefairy, Pikachu, Togepi, Mew, Mewtwo, SnorlaxJigglypuff, Pikachu, Psyduck, Squirtle, Bulbasaur
Boeing 767-300JA857819982001August 2017Clefairy, Pikachu, Togepi, Mew, Mewtwo, SnorlaxJigglypuff, Pikachu, Psyduck, Squirtle, Bulbasaur
Boeing 747-400JA8962199920062010Clefairy, Pikachu, Togepi, Mew, Mewtwo, SnorlaxJigglypuff, Pikachu, Psyduck, Squirtle, Bulbasaur
Boeing 747-400DJA8964199920062011Pikachu, Marill, Dratini, Lapras, Slowpoke, HorseaTogepi, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Ledyba, Elekid, Meowth
Boeing 767-300JA828819992006September 2014Pikachu, Marill, Dratini, Lapras, Slowpoke, HorseaTogepi, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Ledyba, Elekid, Meowth

Boeing 767-300JA835719992006February 2016Pikachu, Marill, Dratini, Lapras, Slowpoke, HorseaTogepi, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Ledyba, Elekid, Meowth
Boeing 747-400DJA8957May 2004October 2013November 2013Celebi, Plusle, Minun, Deoxys, Torchic, Munchlax, Jirachi, Latios, Latias, PikachuMew, Pichu brothers, Treecko, Mudkip, Meowth, Lugia, Entei, Pikachu
Boeing 747-400DJA8956November 2004October 2013November 2013Pikachu, Pichu brothers, Mew, Wynaut, Azurill, Castform, Bellossom, PikachuPikachu, Minun, Plusle, Skiploom, Oddish, Igglybuff, Trapinch, Skiploom, Munchlax, Roselia, Pikachu
Boeing 777-300JA754A2011May 2016May 2016Oshawott, Pikachu, Victini, Zekrom, Darumaka, Pansage, Scraggy, PikachuTepig, Pikachu, Snivy, Reshiram, Meowth, Axew, Munna, Pikachu