ANA BB-8 jet completes inaugural flight

Third of three jets in Star Wars livery


The last of three jets to be decorated in Star Wars livery for Japans' All Nippon Airways (ANA) has completed its inaugural flight, flying from Japan to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Part of the ANA Star Wars Project announced in April 2015, the Boeing (NYSE:BA) 777-300ER is decorated with a special livery featuring the new character BB-8, which debuted in the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The jet debuted at Osaka International Airport (ITM) on March 27, then made a one-time flight to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) before departing on its first international flight to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) just after midnight local time March 29.

Following the HND-LAX flight, the aircraft will operate on various international routes, though principally routes linking HND and Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT) with the U.S. airports of LAX, New York’s John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Chicago’s O’Hare International (ORD), Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International (IAD) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

In addition to its livery, the interior of the aircraft also sports a BB-8 theme. Passengers will experience the world of Star Wars with specially-designed BB-8 paper cups and headrest covers and cabin attendants wear BB-8 aprons. On the R2-D2 ANA Dreamliner, which debuted at Boeing’s plant in Everett, Wash., on Sept. 12, 2015, cabin attendants wear R2-D2 aprons.

The R2-D2 Dreamliner is in service on international routes. The second plane in the series, the ANA Star Wars jet with a livery depicting both R2-D2 and BB-8, is a Boeing 767-300 and entered service Nov. 22, 2015 on domestic routes within Japan.

The themed jets are part of a five year promotional contract with Disney for the Star Wars brand.

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Video by Carl Dombek
Photos courtesy Lusasfilm Ltd.
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