Pokemon has had such a massive impact on the world since its beginnings that it's not hard to find its influence on real-world products and services. Pokemon has even been tied to methods of travel, with a new Pokemon plane now taking to the skies.
Pokemon isn't a stranger to letting its fans travel in style. From the original Pikachu car to buses and trains, Pokemon has had an influence on myriads of methods of transit, especially when a new game is celebrating its release. However, Pokemon planes are pretty special, even though this most recent reveal isn't the first.
In an effort to celebrate and promote Okinawa to travelers, a new Pokemon plane is taking to the skies. This particular Pokemon plane is a follow-up to the Pikachu plane that released last year, in a part of the same marketing campaign. Unlike the original plane, this one features a variety of different Pokemon in it, in addition to the balloon Pikachu that graced the original. This one is decorated with the likes of Magikarp, Wailord, Corsola, and Shaymin. The plane will begin its commercial flight route starting in May 2022.
The decorations don't stop on the exterior of the plane, as previous reveals have shown a variety of interior decorations and designs celebrating the long-running series, as well. Even outside of the art on the plane itself, riders can expect cute things like Pikachu-themed check-in kiosks at the airport, Pokemon-themed uniforms worn by flight attendants, Pokemon BGM played during boarding and select announcement messages, and collectible goodies that can be purchased at the airport or on the planes themselves.
While only the most dedicated Pokemon fans would consider flying solely for the purpose of trying out a Pokemon plane, it's a nice way of getting visitors excited about visiting a select region of Japan, and could be an incentive for those who were already considering a trip to the area. Unfortunately, the timing of the first plane's release coincided with major restrictions on travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world isn't entirely free of the virus' impact yet, with any luck, this particular plane will get to see more visitors as travel restrictions are loosened.
This is just the latest in The Pokemon Company's partnerships looking to draw visitors and attention to Okinawa. Those who visit the area can also keep an eye out for special Pokemon manhole covers, and a special Okinawa shirt Pikachu was made available via Pokemon GO, exclusive to the region.
Source: Skymark (via NintendoSoup)