Alaska’s new Star Wars-themed aircraft celebrates adventures to “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” at Disneyland Resort. To celebrate in style, Alaska Airlines rolled out their new Star Wars livery to mark their association with Disneyland on this “May the fourth be with you” day.
Star Wars Transport to Disneyland Resort
For years, Alaska Airlines and Disneyland have shared a marketing alliance featuring many Disneyland-themed paint liveries. It was only fitting that on May the fourth be with day 2022, the latest Disneyland aircraft rolled out to spotlight the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction at the California park. This Stars Wars themed attraction covers 14 acres at the Magic Kingdom.
“Star Wars Transport to Disneyland Resort” is scheduled to fly in the Alaska fleet and throughout Alaska’s network. You can also spot “Friendship and Beyond at Disneyland Resort” at airports and in the skies with a whimsical tribute to Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Park – Alaska’s last Disneyland Resort-themed aircraft that began service in October 2019.
Rolling It Out
Alaska Airlines joined forces with Disneyland Resort today, May the Fourth, to unveil a new, one-of-its-kind Star Wars-themed aircraft that even Chewbacca would be proud of! The plane, painted space black with the iconic Millennium Falcon emblazoned on the tail chased by TIE fighters, celebrates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the newest land of adventure inside Disneyland park. The plane is now flying on routes across Alaska’s network for the universe to enjoy!
For this latest collaboration – Alaska’s seventh painted plane for the Disneyland Resort – no Jedi mind tricks were needed: the force was strong for a Star Wars livery to finally enter Alaska’s fleet. The aircraft’s official name is “Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort” with a tail number of N538AS. After the big reveal and celebration at the gate in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the plane made its inaugural flight today and ultimate arrival at John Wayne Airport in Orange County
The unique design of the Star Wars-inspired plane is a collaboration among teams at Alaska, Disneyland Resort and Lucasfilm. Familiar spacecraft span each side of the plane with hand-painted, detailed imagery: the Millennium Falcon and four TIE fighters. Designers at Disneyland Resort focused on the incredibly identifiable, widely recognized Millennium Falcon for the spotlight, in addition to the well-traveled spaceship being the focal point at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a 14-acre land in Disneyland park.
The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Disneyland Resort logos are featured in the center of the fuselage. For a lighthearted touch, porgs (the cute avian creatures that lived on Luke Skywalker’s remote island) look back at passengers from both winglets, as another porg greets guests at the boarding door.
How The Magic Happens
To bring the imagery to life, the plane’s exterior required 228 gallons of paint applied during 540 work hours over 27 days. For the painting, 23 base colors were used with numerous custom colors mixed onsite for the detailed airbrushing of the Millennium Falcon and the TIE fighters.
Celebrating In Style
Yesterday, Alaska Airlines launched revenue service in this new livery on May the fourth be with you day. Passengers wearing Star Wars apparel received priority boarding to commemorate this special day.
I was at the Alaska Lounge in San Francisco and I was able to take part in the festivities that Alaska Airlines Media Relations put together. Alaska Airlines had arranged for the new livery aircraft to be parked at gate D-16 which is right outside the beautiful, new San Francisco Alaska Lounge. The Lounge staff was dressed in Stars Wars apparel and they transformed half of the lounge to a Star Wars reception area.
In the Star Wars reception area, a selection of special Star Wars Boba drinks was available.
Guests were treated to a special Star Wars “swag bag” with a “Porg” sign and an R2-D2 robot head topper.
Wearing my R2-D2 head topper and holding my Porg sign and my Boba drink.
Before I got to the lounge, Alaska media relations had a DJ and Star Wars trivia contest going on here.
I love my R2-D2 robot head topper. It lights up and makes all of the R2-D2 sounds when you move your head through its motion sensor.
Final Thoughts
Who doesn’t love Star Wars? The saga began in 1977 and it continues to be a part of American culture. Since Alaska Airlines and Disneyland have shared a marketing alliance for decades, it was only fitting to celebrate May the fourth be with you day with this amazing Star Wars Livery. Are you on board?
