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.

JAL World Cup Livery Boeing 777

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.

Source: Flight International