Japan Airlines (JAL) has launched the ‘DREAM SHO JET,’ an Airbus A350-900 aircraft with a special livery featuring Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers player in the Major League Baseball (MLB), on September 29. The inaugural flight was from Tokyo/Haneda to Sapporo/Chitose, route JL503, heading towards Hokkaido where Ohtani played during his time with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
The ‘DREAM SHO JET’ serves as a symbol for JAL’s project ‘DREAM MILES PASS,’ aimed at supporting young individuals who hold aspirations. It prominently features the image of Ohtani playing as both a pitcher and a hitter towards the rear of the fuselage. The design varies on each side; the left portrays him as a batter with a helmet, while the right shows him as a pitcher with a glove.
The in-flight paper cups used for drink service also feature a special design, including Ohtani’s jersey number ’17’ and the logos of various MLB teams. There are six different designs categorized by league and division, which are provided randomly. Additionally, the seat pockets contain leaflets about the DREAM MILES PASS.
On its maiden flight, a commemorative boarding certificate was distributed. The flight departed from Spot 11 at Haneda Airport at 7:25 AM and took off from Runway C around 40 minutes later. It is planned to operate on the routes between Tokyo/Haneda and Osaka/Itami, Fukuoka, Okinawa/Naha, as well as between Osaka/Itami and Okinawa/Naha until around March 2026.
