One of two Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 777s painted with a special Samurai Blue 2006 livery to mark the football World Cup tournament has arrived in Europe, where it will be used to promote the Japanese national team.

Pictured below is a 777-300ER (JA732J) taking off from London Heathrow earlier this week. The aircraft will mainly be deployed on the carrier's daily non-stop service between its Tokyo Narita hub and Frankfurt. The design will also appear on a 777-300 operating Japanese domestic routes and a 747-400 operating other routes to Europe, ahead of the FIFA World Cup taking place in Germany in June and July.

JAL Boeing 777-300 Samurai W445
© Paul Dopson / APG Photography

Source: Flight International