Inside ANA’s New Pokémon Jet Green: A First Look at the Grass-Type Boeing 787-9 Inaugural Flight to Honolulu

Pokémon marks its 30th anniversary this year. More specifically, it has been 30 years since the original release of Pokémon Red and Green. That history explains why ANA specifically named its trio of anniversary jets Red, Green, and Blue. Rather than picking colors at random, the concept returns straight to the franchise’s origins.

This special project celebrates two significant milestones at once: the 30th anniversary of Pokémon and the 40th anniversary of ANA’s international flight services. Combining these two occasions also clarifies why Honolulu was chosen as the first destination for Pokémon Jet Green.

Among the three special aircraft, the first edition, “Pokémon Jet Red,” is a Boeing 787-8 (JA819A) that entered domestic service on July 29, showcasing Fire-type starters across generations. The second aircraft is our star today, “Pokémon Jet Green,” which operates exclusively on long-haul international routes and is the only internationally configured aircraft of the three. The third aircraft, “Pokémon Jet Blue,” will be a Boeing 737-800 (JA56AN) scheduled to enter domestic service starting in December with a Water-type theme. By dedicating one jet to Fire, Grass, and Water, ANA has faithfully brought the classic starter trio formula into the skies.

On September 18, 2026, “Pokémon Jet Green” officially entered scheduled international service. Earlier that day, ANA granted an exclusive first look at the aircraft’s exterior and cabin interior inside its maintenance hangar at Tokyo Haneda Airport.

Overview of ANA’s Pokémon 30th Anniversary Fleet

One Aircraft, Two Sides: An Asymmetrical Design Worth Circling Twice

The most easily overlooked yet crucial detail about this jet is that the port and starboard sides feature completely different Pokémon lineups.

Along with Pikachu, a total of ten Grass-type starter Pokémon—the first partners players choose when starting their journeys across generations—are featured on the livery. Rather than squeezing all ten onto one side, ANA split them evenly into five per side, with Pikachu making an appearance on both sides.

Starboard Side (Right)

Port Side (Left)

Which Side Should Aviation Spotters Prioritize?

Comparing both charts reveals a fascinating and deliberate layout planned by ANA.

Both Pikachu characters are paired next to specific Grass starters. On the port side, Pikachu sits near the tail alongside Browt. On the starboard side, Pikachu appears near the forward section right beside Chikorita. Both are positioned at roughly the same point along the fuselage, but from opposite vantage points one appears toward the rear while the other sits toward the front.

Even more compelling is the chronological timeline. The port side begins with the original Grass starter, Bulbasaur (1996), and concludes with the unreleased newcomer, Browt (2027). The starboard side starts with Chikorita (1999) and finishes with Turtwig (2006). This means the port side puts the absolute “first” and the very “latest” on a single canvas, encapsulating three decades of Pokémon history in one view.

If you can only photograph one side, aim for the port side (left side)—that is where you will spot the brand-new starter.

An Unreleased Pokémon Takes Flight Before Its Official Game Debut

Scanning through the lineup table, one unfamiliar name immediately catches attention: Browt.

While nine of the partners are beloved household names spanning from Bulbasaur in 1996 to Sprigatito in 2022, Browt is entirely different. Originating from Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, this Generation 10 Grass starter—officially classified as the Bean Chick Pokémon—was unveiled in February 2026 and is slated for a worldwide release on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.

In other words, ANA has painted a Pokémon on an international commercial airliner before the video game has even launched.

This is not an isolated teaser either. The earlier “Jet Red” similarly introduced the Fire-type starter Pombon from the same upcoming titles. With two of the three new starters already flying on two jets, aviation and gaming fans will soon discover whether the third aircraft, “Jet Blue,” will carry the Water-type partner, Gecqua. Beyond celebrating heritage, ANA has cleverly turned its anniversary fleet into airborne teasers for the next generation of Pokémon.

Hidden Easter Eggs Inside the Engine Cowlings

Beyond the main fuselage graphics, the aircraft boasts subtle design easter eggs that will delight observant travelers.

The outer engine cowlings on both engines showcase cheerful Pikachu illustrations, which are visible from the terminal or apron. The real surprise is on the inner cowlings: both engines feature a Poké Ball painted on their interior surfaces facing the fuselage. This delightful detail can only be seen by window-seat passengers gazing out over the wing. If you want to snap this shot, booking a window seat just forward of or over the wing is essential.

Underneath the aircraft belly, another Poké Ball is cleverly centered around the red anti-collision beacon. Whenever the beacon pulses during flight and taxi operations, the Poké Ball flashes in tandem—a masterful touch of aviation livery design.

Painted Green at MRO Japan in Okinawa

A noteworthy logistical detail: this intricate paint scheme was executed at MRO Japan’s facilities at Naha Airport (OKA) in Okinawa.

The previous “Jet Red” was painted inside the same hangar. MRO Japan’s Naha facility has handled a number of Japan’s special-livery paint jobs, making Okinawa a regular stop for aircraft before they return to service in new colors.

The Cabin Experience: Custom Headrest Covers, Paper Cups, and Plushies

Both Premium Economy and Economy cabins are fitted with Pokémon Jet headrest covers. Inflight beverage service features exclusive paper cups alongside character-embossed cocktail napkins. Specially designed Pokémon plushies are also available on board for inflight photos.

Every traveler on board receives a special commemorative boarding certificate along with a limited-edition sticker set.

Keep in mind two practical details: headrest covers are official aircraft property and cannot be taken off the plane. Furthermore, the commemorative cups come in Red, Green, and Blue versions corresponding to each themed aircraft; collecting the complete three-color set requires flying on all three jets.

Additionally, aviation enthusiasts should note: for aviation security reasons, ANA crew members will not provide autographs or write messages in logbooks. This policy was officially highlighted in ANA’s press release to set expectations ahead of time.

Gate Celebrations & Departure Festivities

The first flight took off as Flight NH186 bound for Honolulu on September 18. Gate screens displayed festive Pokémon 30th anniversary branding. Configured with 246 seats across three cabin classes, this Boeing 787-9 was completely sold out, carrying 253 passengers (including seven infants without seat assignments) alongside 11 crew members (two pilots and nine cabin attendants).

Prior to boarding, a costumed Pikachu surprised travelers at the gate. ANA also set up a photo-op backdrop with dedicated staff on hand to take photos for departing passengers.

As boarding commenced, flight crew and Pikachu greeted guests along the jet bridge corridor while handing out commemorative boarding certificates.

At 21:58 (scheduled 21:55), the aircraft pushed back from Spot 67 at Haneda Terminal 2. Down on the tarmac, Bulbasaur joined ANA pilots, maintenance engineers, cabin crew, ground handling agents, and passenger service agents. Waving green light sticks in unison, the apron team waved farewell as the Dreamliner taxied toward the runway.

How to Catch a Flight: Routes and Operational Realities

From September 18, 2026, through March 27, 2027, “Pokémon Jet Green” is scheduled across the following international routes:

• Departing Tokyo Haneda (HND): Honolulu, Seattle, Vancouver, Sydney, Manila, Singapore, Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur
• Departing Tokyo Narita (NRT): Perth, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Mumbai

However, travelers should note an important operational factor: exact tail assignments are finalized on the day of departure based on daily fleet rotations. In short, there is no guaranteed ticket specifically tied to Pokémon Jet Green; booking one of these routes gives you a lucky chance. ANA has explicitly noted that aircraft swaps may occur without prior notice due to operational requirements.

International travelers should also note that Taipei is currently omitted from this initial route list. To experience this jet, travelers will need to connect via Japan or spot it along its scheduled long-haul Pacific and Asian networks. ANA has not announced any additional routes at this time.

No Flight Required: Airport Pokémon GO 30th Anniversary Campaign

Even if you aren’t flying on the Dreamliner immediately, you can still participate in the anniversary festivities directly at select Japanese airports.

To celebrate the launch of “Pokémon Jet Green,” the second phase of the ANA × Pokémon GO collaboration runs from September 18, 2026, through August 31, 2027. With nearly a full year to explore, visitors have plenty of time to plan their airport visits.

This phase encompasses 14 airports across Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa: Kochi, Matsuyama, Takamatsu, Tokushima, Fukuoka, Saga, Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Oita, Ishigaki, Miyako, and Naha. These airports feature bespoke ANA PokéStops and Gyms centered around Bulbasaur. Pokémon caught at these locations will feature exclusive collaboration location backgrounds, alongside limited-time Timed Research.

For complete event terms and reward mechanics, please refer to official Pokémon GO announcements.

• Phase 1 corresponded with “Pokémon Jet Red,” running from July 28 across six airports (New Chitose, Hakodate, Akita, Sendai, Haneda Terminals 2 & 3, and Narita Terminal 1) featuring Charmander. Phase 3 will debut alongside “Pokémon Jet Blue” with another unique roster of participating airports.
• With 6 airports in Phase 1, 14 in Phase 2, and more to follow in Phase 3—with zero overlap—ANA is progressively lighting up airport maps across Japan regional zone by regional zone.

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The original text of this article is in Chinese, translated and edited into English by AI.
本文の原文は中国語であり、AIによって日本語に翻訳・編集されています。