The first flight of an All Nippon Airways Co. jetliner bearing images of Gundam, the robot character from the popular sci-fi animation, departed Tokyo's Haneda airport Friday for Osaka.
The inaugural flight marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the Mobile Suit Gundam plastic model kit.
ANA will operate the special Boeing 777-300 through next March on domestic routes under a joint project with toy maker Bandai Co. and others. The special plane is painted with Gundam's head on its left and the robot in profile on its right.
ANA is selling two types of Gundam plastic model kits in the airline's colors. It will take orders on board domestic flights for a model measuring 125 mm tall, and on both domestic and international flights for the 375-mm tall model.