Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) yesterday concluded its nearly decade-long partnership with the iconic Star Wars film franchise, bringing to a close one of the most striking chapters in the history of aviation marketing. Symbolically, the final flight of the Boeing 787-9 featuring the distinctive R2-D2 paint scheme took place on August 6, 2025, operating as flight NH101 from Washington to Tokyo.
The aircraft, registered JA873A and styled after the legendary R2-D2 droid, became an icon of ANA’s fleet since its public debut in 2015, which also marked the beginning of the airline’s collaboration with Lucasfilm and the Disney empire. In the years that followed, ANA added several more Star Wars-themed aircraft to its fleet, including the “C-3PO ANA JET” – a Boeing 777-200 painted in the character’s signature yellow color, which remains in active service.
The third aircraft in the series was a Boeing 777-300ER with a BB-8 theme, also part of the cinematic universe, though it was retired from service in 2022. The final Star Wars livery, featuring the “C-3PO ANA JET,” is scheduled for retirement in March 2026, formally marking the end of ANA’s collaboration with the film franchise.
With the withdrawal of the last Star Wars aircraft, ANA has closed a ten-year collaboration that captured the attention of aviation and movie fans around the world. Although these jets were primarily used as a marketing tool, they also became a beloved attraction among passengers who had the chance to fly through a galaxy far, far away – in real life.
ANA is also well known for its long-standing tradition of special aircraft paint schemes, including a series of Pokémon-themed jets, which for decades have served as a recognizable symbol of creativity and imagination for Japan’s flag carrier.
