A life-sized flying Gundam may still be a thing of the future, but mecha enthusiasts will soon be able to get a taste of suiting up for the skies… well, sort of. Japan Airlines (JAL) and Bandai Namco have joined forces to roll out a themed Gundam plane, set to take off on domestic routes starting 3 March.
The collaboration serves to celebrate the upcoming 2025 Japan International Expo, otherwise known as the Osaka-Kansai World Expo, showcasing the RX-78F00/E Gundam (EX-001 Glass Feather Equipment) to be exhibited at the Gundam Next Future Pavilion during the event. Alongside the new robot, it also features Myakumyaku, the Expo’s mascot, and custom headrest covers on the inside, designed differently for Economy and Business Class (Class J) seats.
The themed JAL X Gundam aircraft runs till November 2025, with detailed flight routes and specific services yet to be announced. Additionally, the company is offering exclusive tour packages during the Osaka-Kansai World Expo from 13 April to 13 October, combining flight, accommodation, and a limited-edition 1/144 Gunpla kit. The RX-78F00/E Gundam model kit includes commemorative JAL wrapping and special decals exclusive to this design.
A new set of the RX-78-2 Gundam will also be available. Decked out in the flight carrier’s red, white, and grey stylings, it can be purchased on JAL domestic flights via its in-flight Wi-Fi, with up to three days of reservation required for other special merchandise through the “In-Flight Shopping at Home” service.
Rounding out the experience is a restaurant bus decorated in the same Expo 2023 motif, allowing guests to feast on gourmet food in an open-ceiling, two-story bus as it travels across Japan. More information about the collaboration can be found on the official event page.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
