ANA unveils two new Pokémon-themed jets for 30th anniversary, with a third on the way

Summary

All Nippon Airways has unveiled two new Pokémon-themed aircraft liveries to mark the franchise’s 30th anniversary, with a third to follow. Announced on May 28, 2026, Pokémon Jet Red — a Boeing 787-8 (registration JA819A) — will operate domestic Japanese routes from late July 2026, while Pokémon Jet Green, a Boeing 787-9 (registration JA923A), will serve international services on a date yet to be confirmed. A third aircraft, Pokémon Jet Blue, is planned but carries no disclosed details.

The themed jets extend ANA’s 28-year Pokémon partnership into a coordinated anniversary campaign. Pokémon Jet Red enters service end of July 2026 — the first confirmed date in the three-aircraft rollout.

ANA’s latest Pokémon jets are not a novelty stunt. They are a coordinated marketing platform tied to one of the world’s most valuable media franchises — and they carry real implications for anyone booking ANA’s domestic and international networks this year.

The airline confirmed the first two aircraft identities on May 28, 2026, naming Pokémon Jet Red as a Boeing 787-8 on domestic routes and Pokémon Jet Green as a Boeing 787-9 on international services. Both designs draw from the original Pokémon Red and Green video game releases, with the third aircraft — Pokémon Jet Blue — completing the trilogy once details are disclosed.

The immersive experience extends well beyond paint. ANA is decorating headrests, paper cups, and napkins with Pokémon characters across all three aircraft, creating a cabin environment that will be identifiable from the moment passengers board. The airline has launched a dedicated campaign page confirming the rollout sequence and aircraft assignments.

This is ANA’s fourteenth Pokémon-themed aircraft since 1998 — a lineage spanning Boeing 747s, 767s, 777s, and 787s across nearly three decades of franchise collaboration.

The details: three aircraft, two networks, one anniversary

ANA’s official announcement frames the 2026 series as a deliberate anniversary campaign rather than a standalone promotional exercise. The three aircraft are named after the original Pokémon game trilogy — Red, Green, and Blue — with each jet assigned to a distinct network segment. Pokémon Jet Red handles domestic Japanese routes on the shorter-range 787-8 airframe, while Pokémon Jet Green takes international services on the longer-range 787-9. Pokémon Jet Blue, confirmed as a Boeing 737-800, will also serve domestic routes.

The earlier Pikachu Jet NH and Eevee Jet NH — launched as part of ANA’s 2023 Pokémon Air Adventures campaign — are scheduled to remain in service until around 2028, meaning ANA will operate up to five Pokémon-branded aircraft simultaneously at peak. Those earlier jets have been tracked on transpacific and European services including NH008/007, NH012/011, NH110/109/160/159, NH112/111, NH108/107, and NH211/212.

ANA is not the only carrier in this space. China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and the Korean carrier now operating as Trinity Airways have all fielded Pokémon liveries in recent years. What distinguishes ANA’s program is the integration of themed aircraft into long-haul widebody operations — a scope that short-haul regional carriers cannot match.

Why ANA’s Pokémon strategy runs deeper than a paint job

ANA has operated Pokémon-branded aircraft continuously since 1998 — longer than most current airline loyalty programs have existed. That history reframes the 2026 announcement: this is not a one-cycle promotional campaign but a recurring strategic asset the airline deploys around franchise milestones. The 30th anniversary of Pokémon gives ANA a culturally significant hook, and the airline is using it to generate international reach on routes where brand differentiation is otherwise difficult to achieve.

The competitive logic is straightforward. On transpacific and European services, ANA competes directly with Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific — all carriers with strong premium cabin products. Pokémon branding does not change the seat, but it does create a booking reason that extends beyond cabin specs alone, particularly for travelers with flexibility on airline choice. Air Traveler Club’s Asia award value analysis shows ANA redemptions via Aeroplan starting at 55,000 miles one-way for business class — a price point where a themed aircraft can tip a booking decision.

The cabin integration — headrests, cups, napkins — signals that ANA is treating these jets as a full service experience rather than an exterior marketing exercise. That distinction matters for repeat travelers who will encounter the branding across multiple touchpoints during a long-haul flight.

How to track and book ANA’s Pokémon jets before they fill

Pokémon Jet Red enters service at the end of July 2026 — the only confirmed date in the three-aircraft rollout — making the next eight weeks the most actionable window for domestic Japan bookings on registration JA819A.

• Book by flight number, not route: ANA assigns themed aircraft to specific NH services, and the same route can alternate between Pokémon and standard aircraft. Cross-reference ANA’s Pokémon page against your target flight number before ticketing.
• Watch for Pokémon Jet Green’s launch announcement: The 787-9 on international routes is the highest-value target for long-haul travelers. ANA has not confirmed a launch date — when it does, award space on eligible NH services will move quickly.
• Verify equipment at booking and again before departure: Aircraft swaps are common on ANA’s network. Use Flightradar24 or ANA’s own booking flow to confirm the operating aircraft closer to departure.
• Factor in fuel surcharges on international itineraries: ANA increased international surcharges to 56,000 yen ($365) one-way from May 2026, including on award tickets — a cost that applies regardless of which aircraft operates the service.
• Consider award redemption timing: ANA’s 330-day booking window means Pokémon Jet Green’s first international services can be targeted as soon as the launch date is confirmed. Aeroplan and Alaska Mileage Plan currently offer competitive pricing on ANA business class.

Watch for ANA’s tail-number and flight-number disclosures for Pokémon Jet Green and Pokémon Jet Blue — those announcements will be the clearest signal that premium seat maps and equipment confirmations are bookable with confidence.

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