40 special paint jobs airlines have put on planes to advertise Pokemon, call attention to special causes, and generate nostalgia
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Airlines paint select aircraft in special paint jobs, known as liveries, which are themed and often promote a partnership, honor a past, or express an airline's values.
The decorative paints break up the monotony of modern-day "Eurowhite" paint jobs that lack in color and creativity.
Common themes for special liveries include retro paint jobs, sports partnerships, employee appreciation, and national or hometown pride.
In the current age of aviation, it's hard for airlines to stand out as most aircraft look the same to the average traveler.
Long gone are the days when colorful aircraft roamed the skies as airlines have largely adopted paint jobs with little creativity centered around predominantly white fuselages. The style is referred to as "Eurowhite" since the trend began with European airlines and largely dominates the continent today.
Most recently, Europe's Lufthansa and Aer Lingus are in the midst of brand refurbishments that have taken away the colors on their aircraft that the airlines are known for.
The costs associated with a rebranding mean that an airline can go with the same identity for decades without making a change, though they can take one airplane and give it an entirely new look that makes it stand out among the competition.
Special liveries have been used by airlines for a variety of reasons including airline allegiances, brand partnerships, national pride, and paying tribute to an airline's heritage. The often intricate paint jobs give travelers a reprieve from the monotony of air travel while acting as a flying billboard for those on the ground below.
Take a look at the usage of special liveries by today's airlines that give more color to the skies.
A recent trend in special liveries has been airlines using them to publically thank their employees, as seen with this Virgin Atlantic Airways' Airbus A340-600,...
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And a Delta Air Lines Airbus A321 featuring the names of every employee, both token of their respective airline's appreciation for their workers.
Delta Air Lines
Sports is also a larger focus for some airline when creating special liveries with this Lufthansa Boeing 747-8i celebrating Germany's World Cup championship...
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And Japan Airlines promoting the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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JetBlue Airways is one of the leaders in sports-themed special livery thanks to its association with teams in New York and Boston including the New York Jets...
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And Boston Red Sox.
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JetBlue's hometown of New York is also a big inspiration for its special liveries, including this "I Heart New York" livery...
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And New York City Fire Department livery found on its Airbus A320s.
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Southwest Airlines similarly uses special liveries to pay tribute to the states where it has a large presence or bases, including Florida...
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Tennessee...
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Illinois...
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Maryland...
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And Arizona, among others.
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American Airlines, on the other hand, uses most of its special liveries to pay tribute to the precursor airlines that eventually formed the present-day American, a trend started with US Airways. Some heritage liveries include Piedmont Airlines...
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Trans World Airlines...
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Air Cal...
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PSA Airlines...
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And Reno Air. The colorful paint jobs honor American's heritage while giving travelers a glimpse back into aviation's history.
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The liveries aren't always profound but can still convey the same meaning, including liveries promoting breast cancer awareness, found on this Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-400ER...
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And former American Airlines Boeing 777-200.
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British Airways in 2019 repainted four aircraft in liveries that the airline once wore, as well as the liveries of its predecessors. The paints included the Negus livery which British Airways wore from 1974-1984...
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Source: British Airways
And the Landor livery sported between 1984 and 1997.
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British Airways also painted two aircraft in liveries worn by predecessors including the British Overseas Airways Corporation...
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And British European Airways.
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Retro is a common theme for special liveries with airlines wanting to showcase former paints on newer planes, as seen by airlines such as Scandinavian Airlines...
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Lufthansa...
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And LOT Polish Airlines.
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JetBlue even has a 1960's-inspired retro-themed plane, even though the airline formed in the early 2000s and has never worn this livery.
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Special liveries can also be used to promote brand partnerships such as with Star Wars and this All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner...
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And LATAM Boeing 777-300ER.
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All Nippon Airways also once had a Boeing 747 covered head to toe in Pokeman branding.
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Special liveries are also used to promote tourism using stunning visuals, such as the case with Icelandair and its numerous Iceland-inspired paint jobs representing glaciers...
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And the Northern Lights. As the island nation's flag carrier, it's one of Icelandair's missions to bring tourism to Iceland and the liveries help accomplish that.
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Icelandair recently unveiled its latest special livery, aptly named "flag." The livery was created to support the Icelandic national soccer team that secured a spot in the most recent World Cup, with the interior carpet designed as a soccer pitch.
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Airline alliances have their own special liveries, worn by all the member carriers as seen with this China Southern Airlines Airbus A330 representing the SkyTeam alliance...
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All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner representing the Star Alliance...
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And Japan Airlines Boing 777 representing the Oneworld alliance.
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New aircraft are also an opportunity for special liveries, with Portugal's HiFly dedicating its new Airbus A380 to saving the coral reefs...
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And ANA's Airbus A380s each featuring a sea turtle design in different colors.
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Other special liveries can empower unrepresented groups, with United Airlines offering up two of its planes as canvasses in a contest aimed at highlighting female artists.
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