ANA (All Nippon Airways) is launching three Pokémon-themed aircraft in 2026 as part of the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering travelers a unique way to fly between Japanese cities and internationally. The Pokémon Jet Red, a Boeing 787-8, will begin domestic operations by the end of July 2026, followed by the international Boeing 787-9 Pokémon Jet Green and the domestic Boeing 737-800 Pokémon Jet Blue.
These aren’t standard aircraft with small Pokémon logos—they’re fully wrapped jets with distinctive designs, from Pikachu and fire-type starters adorning the red aircraft to grass-type Pokémon covering the green jet. For Pokémon enthusiasts and collectors, these flights represent more than just transportation; they’re a convergence of travel and fandom that comes with limited-edition boarding stickers, commemorative merchandise, and specialized cabin features. Travelers booking these flights should understand what they’re actually getting, where these aircraft are flying, and how to secure a spot on what promises to be one of the most collectible travel experiences of 2026.
Table of Contents
- Which Aircraft Are Flying and What Do They Look Like?
- What Amenities and In-Flight Features Will You Actually Experience?
- Where Will These Pokémon Flights Actually Go?
- When Can You Actually Book These Flights and How Should You Plan?
- Limited-Edition Merchandise and Why You Should Know About Stock Limitations
- The Noto Airport Connection and Extended Pokémon Experience
- What This Means for the Future of Pokémon Collaborations
- Conclusion
Which Aircraft Are Flying and What Do They Look Like?
ana‘s pokémon jet fleet consists of three aircraft, each designed around a different Pokémon theme. The Pokémon Jet Red is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which will primarily handle domestic routes and feature Pikachu alongside fire-type starters like Charmander, Cyndaquil, and Torchic prominently displayed across the fuselage. The international Boeing 787-9 Pokémon Jet Green showcases grass-type starters instead: Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Treecko, Turtwig, Snivy, Chespin, Rowlet, Grookey, and Sprigatito appear throughout the livery, making it visually distinct from its red counterpart. The third aircraft, the Boeing 737-800 Pokémon Jet Blue, rounds out the fleet as a domestic-focused option.
These aren’t simple vinyl wraps applied over standard airplane designs—they represent a significant creative undertaking that ANA has invested in for this anniversary celebration. The 787 models, particularly the Dreamliners, are larger and typically used for longer routes, while the 737 handles shorter regional flights, giving ANA flexibility in scheduling Pokémon-themed flights across different route networks. One important limitation to understand: the Pokémon-themed aircraft aren’t guaranteed to operate every single flight on their assigned routes. Airlines perform maintenance, conduct crew rotations, and sometimes substitute aircraft based on demand and scheduling needs. Just because you’re booking a flight from Tokyo to Osaka doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be on one of these special jets—you should specifically request a Pokémon jet flight when booking and confirm with ANA that you’ve been scheduled on the correct aircraft.
What Amenities and In-Flight Features Will You Actually Experience?
The onboard experience has been carefully designed to reward Pokémon fans without overcomplicating the flying experience. Passengers across all three jets receive limited-edition Pokémon boarding stickers as a commemorative keepsake—something many collectors will want to preserve. Economy class passengers on domestic flights and economy/premium economy on international flights receive Pokémon-themed headrest covers, adding a visual distinction to the cabin environment during your flight. International flights on the green jet go further, offering commemorative anniversary cups for beverage service and custom Pokémon cocktail napkins, turning even routine drink service into a collectible moment. However, there’s an important caveat: these amenities are limited.
Once stocks run out, later passengers on the aircraft won’t receive them, and if you miss boarding early or your flight is particularly full, you might miss out on securing these items. This has become standard practice for limited-edition airline merchandise—arrive early if you want to ensure you get the keepsakes. The headrest covers deserve special mention because they create a genuinely different cabin aesthetic compared to standard ANA flights. Pokémon cards and merchandise collectors often appreciate physical, tangible items, and these covers provide that tangibility that photos or certificates can’t match. That said, the comfort level and actual flight experience remain identical to standard ANA Dreamliner or 737 flights—you’re not getting upgraded seats or special service, just themed surroundings.
Where Will These Pokémon Flights Actually Go?
The Pokémon Jet red will primarily connect Tokyo Haneda to several key Japanese destinations: Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa, and other regional hubs. These are the most important domestic routes in Japan, making it relatively accessible for travelers within Japan to book these flights. The focus on Tokyo Haneda as a hub makes sense—it’s Japan’s busiest airport and the primary gateway for both domestic and international travelers arriving in Japan. The international Boeing 787-9 Pokémon Jet Green will handle longer-range international routes from Haneda, though ANA hasn’t specified the exact international destinations yet.
Given that it’s a 787-9, it can fly routes to the United States, Europe, and other long-haul destinations, potentially opening up the possibility of flying these themed jets on routes like Tokyo to New York or Tokyo to London. For travelers outside Japan, this is significant—you might be able to book a Pokémon-themed flight even if you’re not within Japan’s domestic network. The limitation here is timing and availability. These flights will be popular, and demand will likely exceed supply, especially during peak travel seasons. Additionally, international routes may have seasonal variations or could be adjusted based on demand, so checking directly with ANA for current routing is essential rather than assuming a route will be consistently available.
When Can You Actually Book These Flights and How Should You Plan?
The Pokémon Jet Red launches by the end of July 2026, which means bookings for these flights should open several months earlier. ANA typically opens bookings 11 months in advance for international flights and about 2-3 months for domestic routes, so you’ll likely be able to reserve your spot sometime in early 2026 if you’re targeting a July or later departure. For collectors who want to ensure they fly on one of these aircraft, booking as early as possible is crucial—these flights will likely sell at premium speeds once they’re available. A practical strategy involves planning your Japan travel around these aircraft launches rather than treating the Pokémon jets as an afterthought. If you’re already planning a trip to Japan in late July or August 2026, specifically routing through Tokyo Haneda and requesting a Pokémon jet flight makes sense.
Comparing this to standard ANA flights, you won’t pay significantly more for the privilege—the Pokémon jets operate as part of standard ANA scheduling, not as premium premium-cabin experiences, which is one of the most appealing aspects. One tradeoff to consider: flexibility versus certainty. If you book early to guarantee a Pokémon jet flight, you’re committing to specific dates and routes. If you’re more flexible and book closer to departure, you might miss out on these aircraft entirely. There’s no ideal solution—it depends on whether you prioritize the collectible experience or travel flexibility.
Limited-Edition Merchandise and Why You Should Know About Stock Limitations
The boarding stickers, headrest covers, cups, and napkins associated with these flights are genuinely limited in quantity. Airlines produce these items in finite quantities based on aircraft capacity and expected flight duration—they’re not infinitely replenished. The Pokémon Jet Red will carry roughly 242 passengers (typical 787-8 configuration), meaning only that many boarding stickers are printed per flight. Over hundreds of flights across several months, total stock still reaches significant numbers, but individual flights run out. A critical warning: don’t assume you’ll get these items just because you’re booked on a Pokémon jet flight.
They’re distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and if you board late, check in without special arrangements, or fly on a particularly busy service, you could be on the aircraft but unable to obtain the limited items. Plan to arrive at the airport earlier than usual, clarify with ANA representatives that you want to ensure receiving the commemorative items, and don’t assume you can request them during boarding if they’ve already run out. The secondary market for airline collectibles has become increasingly valuable. Pokémon-related items have proven collectible appeal, and unused, mint-condition Pokémon airline merchandise from these flights will likely retain or appreciate in value. This creates an incentive to try to obtain multiple sets if possible—whether that’s booking multiple flights or attempting to acquire items from collectors who flew but didn’t want to keep them. However, airlines increasingly restrict the resale of certain merchandise, so understand any usage policies before attempting to preserve items for investment purposes.
The Noto Airport Connection and Extended Pokémon Experience
Beyond the flights themselves, ANA has coordinated a broader Pokémon travel experience through Noto Airport, which is launching its own Pokémon-themed evolution on July 7, 2026. This airport experience will run through September 30, 2029, creating a three-year window for Pokémon-themed travel within Japan. If you’re planning a Pokémon jet flight, routing through Noto Airport when possible extends your themed experience beyond just the aircraft itself.
This coordination suggests that ANA is thinking about Pokémon tourism as a destination experience, not just a novelty flight. For collectors and enthusiasts planning a dedicated Pokémon travel trip to Japan, the combination of flying on a Pokémon-themed jet and visiting the Pokémon-themed airport creates a comprehensive experience worth planning around. However, Noto Airport is smaller and more regional than Tokyo Haneda, so you’ll likely need to connect through Haneda to reach it, which affects itinerary flexibility.
What This Means for the Future of Pokémon Collaborations
The scale of ANA’s Pokémon 30th anniversary commitment—three full aircraft, specialized amenities, coordinated airport theming—signals that major brands and Japanese companies are willing to invest significantly in Pokémon experiences for collectors and fans. This likely won’t be a one-time initiative; it establishes a precedent for how airlines might approach licensing partnerships with major franchises going forward.
For Pokémon card and merchandise collectors, these flights represent a rare opportunity to participate in an official, large-scale anniversary celebration. Unlike limited-edition card releases that involve luck and competitive buying, these flights are bookable through standard channels—but they require advance planning and specific intent. The window is narrow (late July 2026 forward), so anyone seriously interested in experiencing these aircraft should begin monitoring ANA’s booking calendar in early 2026 and prepare to book promptly once availability opens.
Conclusion
The Pokémon Jet Red, Green, and Blue aircraft represent a genuine innovation in how major brands collaborate with transportation. These are full-livery, multi-aircraft commitments from ANA, not simple marketing overlays.
If you’re a Pokémon enthusiast or collector, the practical question is straightforward: are you willing to plan travel around these flights to secure a limited-edition experience, or would you prefer to wait and potentially see if future Pokémon collaborations offer similar opportunities? For collectors specifically, the tangible items—the boarding stickers, headrest covers, cups, and napkins—are the real draw, and they’re only available to passengers who actually fly these aircraft. If you’re planning a trip to Japan or considering one for 2026, specifically routing through Tokyo Haneda to book a Pokémon jet flight is a concrete way to acquire these limited items while experiencing the collaboration firsthand. Start monitoring ANA’s booking system in early 2026, arrive at the airport early to secure your commemorative items, and don’t assume these flights will be available indefinitely or on every routing you want—book with intention rather than hoping the opportunity will still exist later.
