ANA announces new international routes for its Pokémon Jet collaboration.
Earlier this summer, Japanese airline ANA started flying a Pokémon Jet, carrying passengers in an aircraft with awesome and adorable Pocket Monster graphics both inside and out. All of the flights were for domestic routes, primarily linking Tokyo’s Haneda and Osaka’s Itami with regional airports.
But while it may have started in Japan, Pokémon is one of the most popular entertainment franchises in the whole world, with a fanbase that now stretches far beyond its home country, and that fanbase will be happy to know that starting next month, you’ll be able to fly to or from Japan on a Poké-plane, as ANA is adding international Pokémon Jet routes.
Much like the connected Pokémon video games get their own subtitles, this new themed ANA aircraft is called the Pokémon Jet Green, and accompanying passengers on their flight will be each and every generation’s Grass-type starters, up to and including the representative for the yet-to-be-released Pokémon Winds and Waves. Oh, and of course Pikachu will be there too.
▼ Bulbasaur, Sprigatito, Chespin, Snivy, and Browt
▼ Turtwig, Treecko, Rowlet, Grookey, and Chikorita
As for where this crew will be flying, the Pokémon Jet Green will connect Japan with the U.S., Canada, Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. All flights will arrive at or depart from either Haneda Airport in Tokyo or Narita Airport, located in Chiba Prefecture but also servicing the greater Tokyo area.
● Routes to/from Haneda and Honolulu, Seattle, Vancouver, Sydney, Manilla, Singapore, Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur
● Routes to/from Narita and Perth, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Mumbai
▼ Pokémon Jet Green routes
In addition to the exterior artwork for the Bowing 787-9, there’ll be Pokémon theming going on inside the cabin as well, with special Pokémon Jet Green designs for the passenger seat headrest covers as well as the napkins and cups used for drink service.
ANA is also promising the presence of Pokémon background music, though it’s not clear if that means familiar tunes will play during boarding or whether a selection will be available for listening through the in-flight entertainment system. We do know, however, that passengers will receive an exclusive Pokémon Jet Green sticker to commemorate their flight.
The Pokémon Jet Green will make its maiden flight on September 18, departing from Haneda at 9:55 p.m. and headed for Honolulu, and will fly back to Haneda at 1:55 p.m., also on September 18 (yes, flying across the international date line is weird). Subsequent schedules are yet to be announced, but ANA says the Pokémon Jet Green will be soaring around the Pacific Rim through March 27 of next year.
Source: ANA (1, 2)
Images: ANA
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