Aircraft

Japan Airlines (JAL) is to repaint two of its Boeing 777s and a 747 with a livery representing the country's national football side, ahead of FIFA World Cup taking place in Germany in June and July.

The aircraft will be repainted with a special design entitled Samurai Blue 2006, which features a blue team shirt being passed over the heads of supporters. The new livery will be displayed on a 777-300ER operating on carrier's daily non-stop service between its Tokyo Narita hub and Frankfurt (pictured below)and a 747-400 operating other routes to Germany. The design will also appear on a 777-300 operating Japanese domestic routes.

The design will be displayed on these aircraft over the period stretching from 20 February until the final game of the global soccer championship on 9 July, the company says.

JAL has been an official supporting company of the Japanese national football team since 1999, it adds.