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See
a familiar, or not so familiar face for those who do not follow
baseball, flying through the skies at 30,000 feet, no need for concern
it is most likely Hideki Matsui! The Japan Airlines Group is enlisting the aid of their U.S.
Major League baseball image character, New York Yankees' power hitter Hideki Matsui, in a summer campaign to attract Japanese domestic air
travelers that features two aircraft decorated with the famous slugger's
portrait.
Japan Airlines and Japan Air Systems are merging and one of the objectives
of the new airline group is to become one of the world's leading air transport groups.
'Together with Matsui-san,' say the two carriers,' we want to create a new
dream this summer, hence the summer campaign - the JAL and JAS GO-GO
MATSUI CAMPAIGN'.
The Japanese love puns and GO GO has several meanings
in Japan. For example, 'go' in Japanese means number 5, and Matsui's Yankee shirt bears
the number 55, which can be read as GO GO.
A JAL domestic 747 and a JAS Airbus 300-600 will carry Matsui's portrait,
plus an image of the ball that he hit for his first home run as a Yankee.
'Matsui-Jet Number One,' the JAL 747 with the batter's portrait, makes its
debut on June 25 on the Tokyo-Komatsu route and later that day will make
two round trip flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Sapporo. The JAS Airbus, 'Matsui-Jet Number Two' will fly from July 18.
Passengers on all flights by the eight JAL Group domestic* carriers during
the campaign period are eligible for a draw either for tickets for a special
two-hour 'GO-GO Matsui Dream Flight' or for 55,000 mobile telephone straps
decorated with a miniature Matsui figure. Additionally, the JAL Group is
running a competition for junior school children for Dream Flight tickets.
Entrants have to submit a pictorial diary with the theme 'My Dream Trip'.
There are also consolation prizes of 55,000 yen gift coupons for 55 people
who fail to win a 'phone strap or a pair of tickets for the 'GO GO Matsui
Dream Flight.
The' JAL and JAS GO-GO MATSUI CAMPAIGN' will run from July 18 through
September 30. |
