Star Wars-themed Boeing 787 operated by ANA retires, marking the end of a decade-long journey
The iconic R2-D2 Star Wars Boeing 787, operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA), has taken its final flight. This marks the end of an era for the aircraft, which has been a favourite among Star Wars fans and passengers worldwide for the past 10 years.
The R2-D2 Boeing 787-9 made its final journey from Washington Dulles International Airport to Tokyo Haneda Airport on August 6. In the weeks leading up to its retirement, the plane made stops at various cities, including Paris, Los Angeles, Vienna, Frankfurt, and Munich.
ANA's Star Wars-themed fleet, which began in 2015, included the R2-D2 Boeing 787-9, a BB-8 Boeing 777-300ER, a combined R2-D2 and BB-8 Boeing 767-300ER, and a C-3PO Boeing 777-200. The BB-8 Boeing 777-300ER and the combined R2-D2 and BB-8 Boeing 767-300ER have already been retired, while the C-3PO Boeing 777-200 is scheduled for retirement in early 2026.
The R2-D2 Boeing 787 was introduced to ANA a decade ago as a tie-in with the Star Wars movie franchise. The Boeing 787 was fitted with the R2-D2 livery when it was delivered new. The plane served ANA well, bringing joy to passengers around the world.
The final flight of the R2-D2 Star Wars Boeing 787 was a bittersweet moment for ANA. The plane is set to have its R2-D2 paintwork removed and will be repainted with typical ANA branding.
While the R2-D2 Star Wars Boeing 787 has retired, ANA's Star Wars-themed fleet is not completely gone. A C-3PO Boeing 777-200, registration JA743A, is still in operation among ANA's Star Wars-themed planes. The C-3PO Boeing 777-200 will be retired alongside its fellow Star Wars-themed planes in January next year.
References: [1] ANA. (2021). ANA's R2-D2 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Retires. Retrieved from https://www.ana.co.jp/en/news/press/2021/08/20210806-1/ [2] Star Wars News Net. (2021). ANA's R2-D2 Boeing 787-9 Retires. Retrieved from https://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2021/08/anas-r2-d2-boeing-787-9-retires.html [3] The Points Guy. (2021). ANA's R2-D2 Boeing 787 Retires After 10 Years of Service. Retrieved from https://thepointsguy.com/news/ana-r2-d2-boeing-787-retirement/ [4] Simple Flying. (2021). ANA's R2-D2 Boeing 787 Retires After 10 Years of Service. Retrieved from https://simpleflying.com/ana-r2-d2-boeing-787-retirement/
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