Singapore's Scoot counts on Pikachu Jet for recovery
Singaporean low-cost carrier Scoot has become the first Southeast Asian airline to fly a "Pikachu Jet" to stimulate demand to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidiary of Singapore Airlines also aims to attract demand with ticket giveaways and the opening of new routes. As China keeps in place its strict zero-COVID policy that has effectively banned cross-border travel, Scoot is pinning its hopes on Japan and Taiwan, which have decided to scrap travel restrictions. In early September, a Boeing 787 whose hull is decorated with illustrations of the popular Pokemon character Pikachu carrying rainbow-colored balloons, as well as Lapras and other characters from the Japanese media franchise, took off from Singapore's Changi Airport. "Strategic partnership between Scoot and the Pokemon company is one year in the making. It is very timely to announce it because borders have started to reopen and it is time to reignite the passion for travel," Scoot CEO Leslie Thng told media when the Pikachu Jet was unveiled. On special Pokemon-themed flights, Pikachu can be found everywhere, from overhead bins to packaging of in-flight meals. Cabin crew play games and perform an original Pokemon dance to entertain passengers. The jet debuted for Scoot on a round trip between Changi and Narita, followed by a flight to Incheon near Seoul. Scoot initially planned to fly the jet on two return flights a month, but it announced on Oct. 3 that it will add Taipei from November because the jet has proved popular with passengers. The aircraft is being used for other flights as well. The carrier has teamed up with The Pokemon Co., which manages the Pokemon brand and is an equity method affiliate of Japanese game maker Nintendo, in a corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at reviving the airline and tourism industries. The Pokemon Company has shouldered the expense of wrapping the jet with its new decorations, said to have cost about 100 million yen ($688,000). Scoot's expenses are limited to promotion, marketing and in-flight services, making the collaboration financially attractive for the budget airline. Story has more.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-10-17/unaligned/singapores-scoot-counts-on-pikachu-jet-for-recovery
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Singapore's Scoot counts on Pikachu Jet for recovery
Singaporean low-cost carrier Scoot has become the first Southeast Asian airline to fly a "Pikachu Jet" to stimulate demand to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidiary of Singapore Airlines also aims to attract demand with ticket giveaways and the opening of new routes. As China keeps in place its strict zero-COVID policy that has effectively banned cross-border travel, Scoot is pinning its hopes on Japan and Taiwan, which have decided to scrap travel restrictions. In early September, a Boeing 787 whose hull is decorated with illustrations of the popular Pokemon character Pikachu carrying rainbow-colored balloons, as well as Lapras and other characters from the Japanese media franchise, took off from Singapore's Changi Airport. "Strategic partnership between Scoot and the Pokemon company is one year in the making. It is very timely to announce it because borders have started to reopen and it is time to reignite the passion for travel," Scoot CEO Leslie Thng told media when the Pikachu Jet was unveiled. On special Pokemon-themed flights, Pikachu can be found everywhere, from overhead bins to packaging of in-flight meals. Cabin crew play games and perform an original Pokemon dance to entertain passengers. The jet debuted for Scoot on a round trip between Changi and Narita, followed by a flight to Incheon near Seoul. Scoot initially planned to fly the jet on two return flights a month, but it announced on Oct. 3 that it will add Taipei from November because the jet has proved popular with passengers. The aircraft is being used for other flights as well. The carrier has teamed up with The Pokemon Co., which manages the Pokemon brand and is an equity method affiliate of Japanese game maker Nintendo, in a corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at reviving the airline and tourism industries. The Pokemon Company has shouldered the expense of wrapping the jet with its new decorations, said to have cost about 100 million yen ($688,000). Scoot's expenses are limited to promotion, marketing and in-flight services, making the collaboration financially attractive for the budget airline. Story has more.<br/>
