April 17--Maybe it's no Millennium Falcon, but Japanese airline All Nippon Airways will bring a little "Star Wars" to the skies by draping a new Boeing Dreamliner aircraft in R2D2 robot livery.
The airline said it will introduce in the fall an "R2D2 jet," a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in white and blue stripes like the trusty, chirping "Star Wars" droid, with the "Star Wars" logo in black on the aircraft's fuselage.
The airline didn't say what route the aircraft would fly, saying only "the jet is scheduled to fly on international routes this autumn."
The airline apparently appreciates the droid, saying on its website that R2D2 is "highly loyal and whenever he faces challenge he comes up with an original idea to succeed the mission."
At O'Hare, ANA has two daily departures to Tokyo, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation website.
ANA is the largest operator of Boeing Dreamliners.
gkarp@tribpub.com
