Just like all the other Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens will hit theaters with countless promotional tie-ins and the number will likely only grow since Disney is involved this time. One of those tie-ins will from from Japan’s All Nippon Airways, which announced a Star Wars-themed plane.
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be painted to look like R2-D2, with the Star Wars logo painted on the side. It’s the first time a character from the franchise will officially appear on the side of a commercial aircraft. International flights on the plane will start this fall.
“We’re excited to be involved in this collaboration with ANA, one of the world's leading 5-star airlines,” Kayleen Walters, Vice President, Marketing for Lucasfilm Ltd, said in a statement. “We’re proud of the innovative R2-D2 design, and we look forward to witnessing the first-ever flight of a passenger aircraft featuring a Star Wars character. We’re confident that Star Wars fans around the world will absolutely love this design.”
ANA hasn’t decided what routes will use the plane. However, fans will have plenty of opportunities, since Disney Japan and ANA signed a five-year deal.
ANA also launched a special site for the plane.
You can check out the new The Force Awakens teaser right here. The film hits theaters on Dec. 18.
image courtesy of ANA