Japan Airlines has announced the introduction of a Boeing 787-8 on international routes featuring a special livery commemorating the 2025 World Exposition (EXPO 2025). The event is to be held in Osaka, Japan from April 13 until October 13, 2025.
The initiative marks the second phase of the publicity campaign by the carrier and follows the introduction of another special livery on an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Japan Airlines subsidiary J-AIR, based at Osaka International (Itami) Airport (KIX).
The special design to be displayed on the 787 features images of the Expo’s official mascot ‘MYAKU-MYAKU’, along with other original elements of the EXPO 2025 branding. The newly decorated aircraft is scheduled to begin operations on behalf of the carrier on June 3, 2024. Specific dates and flights to be operated by the 787 Expo-jet have yet to be revealed by the airline.
According to Japan Airlines, the aim of the special schemes is “to introduce both domestic and international passengers to EXPO 2025, encouraging visits not only to the exposition but also to various destinations throughout Japan”.
The 787 Dreamliner aircraft that has been chosen to bear the ‘MYAKU-MYAKU’ design scheme is one of the carrier’s 23 787-8s, with registration JA823J. This aircraft is 10.8 years old, having been delivered new from Boeing to Japan Airlines in August 2013. The aircraft has a capacity of 206 passengers, comprising 30 business class seats and 176 economy class seats.
The routes earmarked to be serviced by the 787 EXPO 2025 jet include flights from Tokyo-Haneda (HND) to Seoul-Gimpo(GMP), Taipei-Songshan (TPE), Dalian (DLC), Shanghai-Pudong )PVG) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). The aircraft will also be seen on flights from Tokyo-Narita (NRT) to Bangkok (BKK) and Osaka-Kansai to Bangkok and Taipei.
The aircraft is expected to remain in the special color scheme until August 2025. Meanwhile, the carrier has also disclosed that there will be a third EXPO 2025 liveried aircraft, details of which have yet to be revealed.
According to a Japan Airlines statement, the concept behind ‘MYAKU-MYAKU’, the official mascot of EXPO 2025, is that it is “a mysterious creature born from the unification of cells and water. Its true identity is unknown. The red part is the ‘cell’ which divides and increases while the blue part represents clean water which can be transformed to flow. The character will be utilized by the EXPO 2025 organizing committee, as well as other stakeholders, to “publicize and foster the momentum of the Expo”.