Gundam themed aircraft takes to Japan’s skies this March

Japan Airlines (JAL) and Bandai Namco will launch a new collaborative project this March, entitled “JAL x GUNDAM FLY TO THE FUTURE PROJECT”.

The centrepiece of this collaboration is a new “JAL Gundam JET”, featuring artwork of “RX-78F00/E Gundam (EX-001 Glass Feather Equipped)” on the side, which will begin operating on domestic flights to the Kansai area from March the 3rd 2025.

“RX-78F00/E Gundam (EX-001 Glass Feather Equipped)” is also set to feature in a completely new animation that will be shown at the “GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION”, which will be exhibited by Bandai Namco at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

The Expo’s mascot “Myakumyaku” can also be seen on the side of the “JAL Gundam JET”, as the collaboration is in part being held to promote tourism to Osaka and the wider Kansai area during the 2025 World Expo which will be held from April and October.

The new Gundam themed aircraft will be a Boeing 737-800, with the registration number JA342J.

Services on the new jet will begin on March 3rd 2025 and end in November 2025 on an as yet unspecified date. Specific services and flight routes are still yet to be confirmed.

JAL will also be offering special “dynamic tour packages” that will include airfare to Kansai, accommodation, and a 1/144 Gunpla (plastic model) kit of “RX-78F00/E Gundam (EX-001 Glass Feather Equipped)”, which will come in special commemorative JAL packaging and include special decals that are exclusive to this version.

Beyond the new aircraft and tour packages, JAL will also be offering special collaboration in-flight items, which can be reserved up to 3 days in advance using the “In-flight at home” service.

A new JAL themed Gunpla kit of RX-78-2 Gundam, featuring an original color scheme, will be available as part of the service and is expected to be highly sought after.

Finally, JAL will be operating a 3m-tall double-decker restaurant bus, the “JAL x Gundam Restaurant Bus”, which will be painted in the same design as the “JAL Gundam JET”, with the bus set to tour the country to promote the collaboration.

On the restaurant bus, hot food based on local cuisine and specialties of the area the bus is touring will be served to guests in the restaurant space on the second floor, with food prepared in a kitchen on the first floor.

More information regarding the specific tour dates and areas the restaurant bus will operate in, as well as further information regarding tour packages and flight routes/ticket booking details for the “JAL Gundam JET”, will be made available via the official website shortly.

Source: Official Website