With EXPO 2025 coming up, Japan Airlines will be introducing a specially painted aircraft to promote the show.
A Boeing 787-8 will be painted for the 2025 World Exposition (EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan) held in Yumeshima, Osaka, from 13th April to 13th October 2025.
The jet is called the MYAKU-MYAKU JET – named after EXPO 2025’s mascot.
This special design features Expo’s official character ‘MYAKU-MYAKU’ among other original elements of the EXPO 2025.
It is scheduled to begin operations on the 3rd of June 2024.
This initiative follows the introduction of a special livery on the Embraer 190 aircraft operated by J-AIR, based at Osaka International (Itami) Airport, marking it as the second phase in this series.
The deployment of the second aircraft is aimed at introducing both domestic and international passengers to EXPO 2025, encouraging visits not only to the exposition but also to various destinations throughout Japan.
Details regarding the launch date and flight schedules will be provided on the JAL website, although the airline has highlighted the following routes it should appear on:
- Tokyo (Haneda) to Seoul (Gimpo), Taipei (Songshan), Dalian, Shanghai (Pudong), Ho Chi Minh City
- Tokyo (Narita) to Bangkok.
- Osaka (Kansai) to Bangkok, Taipei (Taoyuan)
There are plans in place to introduce a third special livery aircraft (for domestic flights).
Promotion is everything
At the last major Expo, Emirates took one of a few of it Airbus A380s to promote the upcoming show, firstly in a show livery then in a full Expo livery. Similairly JAL is promoting the show with cute painted aircraft.
Its a little disappointing to see its being promoted see the 787-8 being planned to operate in Asia only. We can hope that we’ll see it go beyond the planned routes unexpectly to promote the show, with its rather inspired livery.
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Wow, that is one strange “official character.” I know the Japanese are masters of the mascot art, but that is just bizarre, even after you read the description of what it’s supposed to be. I’m looking forward to seeing it in costumed-human form.
But your question’s a good one – why would you put a “world expo” character on a plane that’s only going to be flying on one continent?