Another Pokemon Jet named "Pikachu Jet NH" has been revealed, continuing the flourishing trend of airliners decorated with the popular characters designed by Game Freak. Yet, this one is special.
ANA (All Nippon Airways) just announced that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with the registration JA894A will debut a new Pokemon-themed livery on June 4, 2023, in collaboration with the Pokemon Air Adventures initiative.
If you're wondering, the "NH" in the name is simply the IATA code of the airline. Airliners associated directly with the Pokemon Air Adventures project all follow the same naming scheme.
The aircraft is fairly new, having been delivered by Boeing in 2017, and will soon go back into the hangar to get its new livery featuring the following Pokemon (identified by our resident expert Brittany Alva).
- Pikachu
- Rayquaza
- Rowlett
- Charizard
- Corviknight
- Vivillion
- Flagon
- Latios
- Latias
- Togekiss
- Emolga
You can check what it'll look like in the mockups below.
Pokemon-themed merchandise will be available for purchase on board, and videos from Pokemon Kids TV and Poketoon will be included in the in-flight entertainment. The airliner will serve routes between Tokyo Haneda and Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Delhi, Sydney, Vancouver, and Honolulu.
Unfortunately, it's quite challenging to plan flying on aircraft with this kind of special livery because ANA operates tens of 787-9 airliners, and they're usually assigned to specific flights only hours before departure. In normal circumstances, you simply have to get lucky.
The trend of Pokemon Jets has returned in full force after a few years of hiatus following the pandemic, in part thanks to the Pokemon Air Adventures initiative, as airlines strive to promote the return of tourism in Japan and Asia.
I mentioned that this one is special, and that's why ANA is actually the airline that started this kind of promotion all the way back in 1998 with a Boeing 747 and two Boeing 767. Yet, it has been seven years since the latest Pikachu Jet flying for the popular carrier was retired. Since then, the trend has been the domain of smaller airlines, at least in Japan.
The most famous of them all also belonged to ANA, the beloved "Pikachu Jumbo" JA8957 launched in 2004 and painted bright yellow. It was retired in 2013 among emotional farewells by its many fans.
Currently, there are four Pokemon jets in operation in Japan, two operated by Skymark focusing on Flying Pikachu, one by Air Do focusing on Vulpix, and the latest "Nassy Jet" dedicated to Eggxecutor operated by Solaseed Air. The new Pikachu Jet NH will be the fifth. The trend has actually extended outside of Japan as of late, with airliners operated by China Airlines in Taiwan, Scoot in Singapore, and T'way in South Korea.
If you're interested in the games belonging to the popular franchise, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet is currently available exclusively for Nintendo Switch and just got a substantial update fixing many of its issues, while a DLC has been announced. Pokemon Sleep is also coming this summer.
