This card was released as a promotional card. In Japan, it was included with the the November 1996 issue of CoroCoro Comic. The English version of the card was released through Pokémon card leagues in August 2001.
A different variation of this card with a plane in the background was released in Japan as a special card by All Nippon Airways in 1998. Passengers flying in conjunction with the "Pokémon Getaways" campaign could redeem their boarding passes for the 2 card set including Flying Pikachu and Dragonite. This variant card was never released in English.
Trivia
The Japanese versions of the card are identical with the exception that the print given on ANA features an airplane in the illustration.