Since its inception in 1977, the Star Wars franchise has delivered 11 live action movies, including three trilogies and two stand-alone films, and countless television hits.
Nothing has ever come close to the scale and enormity of Star Wars, which was set by its creator, George Lucas, in a Galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars’ fans celebrate the franchise each year on ‘May the 4th be with you’ day, inspired by one of the film’s most familiar phrases, “May the force be with you”.
Its movies are renowned for swash-buckling scenes with light sabers, daring escapes and epic battles, but for many it is the spaceships like the Millenium Falcon and TIE Fighters that steal the show
It therefore came as no surprise when some of the biggest airlines around the globe partnered up with Star Wars.
And we are super glad they did, as some of the coolest Star Wars-themed liveries were painted on several lucky passenger jets – some of which are still flying today.
So, here are five of AeroTime’s favorites:
Alaska Airlines – Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort
Alaska Airlines and Disneyland joined forces to unveil a special Star Wars-themed livery on May 4, 2022.
The aircraft was officially named, ‘Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort’ and featured a TIE Fighter and the iconic Millenium Falcon.
Alaska Airlines said that the Boeing 737- 800’s exterior required 228 gallons of paint applied during 540 work hours over 27 days.
ANA – R2-D2
ANA, Japan’s largest airline, flew the R2-D2 inspired aircraft for the first time in 2015 and it is still in service today.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner’s livery centers around the movie franchise’s favorite droid which appeared for the first time in the original film, A New Hope.
The 215-seater jet flies regularly from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Europe and the United States.
ANA –C3PO
ANA also released a Boeing 777 that took inspiration from the slightly irritating, but lovable droid C-3PO.
The aircraft was unveiled in 2017 with incredible detail to match C-3PO’s distinct gold color and robotic features.
Today the jet flies domestically in Japan, taking passengers between Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa.
United Airlines – The Rise of Skywalker
United Airlines unveiled its Star Wars-themed paint design on one of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft in 2019.
The release was in conjunction with Star Wars’ latest film at the time, The Rise of Skywalker, starring Mark Hamil as Luke Skywalker.
The exterior features imagery of famous Star Wars spacecraft, including the X-wing and TIE fighter starships.
LATAM Airlines – Galaxy’s Edge land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
LATAM Airlines‘ new Star Wars plane flew passengers for the first time in October 2019, at Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Boeing 777 with the image of a Stormtrooper on the plane’s tail was inspired by the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The Brazilian 410-seater is still flying today with flights from São Paulo to the United States and Europe.