Aircraft Livery: 6 Awesome Paint Schemes

1. Kulula’s “Flying 101” Aircraft:

South African airline Kulula has one of the most famous aircraft liveries in the world. Kulula is known for being a “no-frills” airline, but it’s also known for its humorous marketing techniques. According to the company’s website,  Kulula developed its “Flying 101” airplane paint scheme in order to answer passenger questions about flying. The “Flying 101” airplane is bright green with white instructional arrows pointing to important parts of the aircraft, like “the big cheese” (where the captain sits), “Engine #1 and “Boot Space.” Arrows also points to the “black box,” a “secret agent code” (the tail number) and says “Kulula fans” above the passenger windows.

Other creative paint jobs include a camouflage airplane that reads “no one saw us coming” (which, admittedly is pretty clever) and the “This Way Up” 737-800 paint scheme that has arrows pointing up just like those fragile packages delivered by the post man. (Photo copyright Kulula/Kulula.com)

2. Eva Air’s Hello Kitty Jet:

Eva Air has six Hello Kitty themed jets: The Magic Jet, Apple Jet, Global Jet, Happy Music Jet, Speed Puff Jet and the Hand-in-Hand Jet. Magic Jet pictures the Hello Kitty cat waving a magic wand and dusting the airplane with stars to signify the start of a happy journey. The Apple Jet shows just how important apples are to Hello Kitty (apparently the cat is five apples tall and weighs as much as three apples. Who knew?)  And the Global Jet, as it might imply, shows Hello Kitty and friends around various world landmarks, such as the Taj Mahal and Pyramids of Giza.

The Happy Music Jet is meant to inspire cheerfulness in the air and the Speed Puff Jet, in which Hello Kitty and friends chase their dreams on fluffy clouds.  (Photo copyright Mohit Purswani – AHKGAP/Airliners.net http://www.airliners.net/photo/EVA-Air/Boeing-777-35E-ER/2318434/&sid=1941c896f37a43115e01cb44f0963f4c)

3. British Airways Panda Jet:

British Airways painted one of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft like a panda to celebrate the airline’s new route from London’s Heathrow Airport to Chengdu. The panda was flying the new route three times per week. (Photo copyright BillShullPhotography/Airliners.net -Please link www.Billshullphotography.com)

4. Airberlin’s Santa Claus Tour:

In 2011, airberlin painted one of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a Christmas theme for its airberlin Santa Claus Tour. The side of the aircraft was painted in snowflakes and the words “Flying Home for Christmas.”

Passengers on select airberlin flights had the chance to see Santa Claus and his elf while drinking mulled wine and indulging in special Christmas edition chocolate hearts. Passengers could also transport a Christmas tree on board the airplane for free during the Santa Claus Tour. (Photo copyright Alec@B92/Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/awilson154/8206891168/sizes/c/in/photolist-dvdsPA/.)

5. Bangkok Airway’s A320 Fleet:

Bangkok Airways has five Airbus A320 aircraft that are decorated with wild colors depicting different exotic locations that the airline flies to.  In October 2013, the airline was named one of the Top 20 Most Colorful Airlines in the World by online travel company Skift. (Photo copyright Jakkrit Prasertwit/Airliners.net http://www.airliners.net/photo/Bangkok-Airways/Airbus-A320-232/1339238/L/)

6. ANA Pokemon Jet (Ohana & Pikachu):

The Pokemon trend isn’t restricted to pre-teen boys. In 1998, Al-Nippon Airways (ANA) unveiled two Pokemon themed jets – a Boeing 747 and 767 – right after the first Pokemon movie was released.  It was widely popular and ANA quickly unveiled an addition 767 aircraft with a Pokemon paint scheme.  And they didn’t stop there. To date, there are at least seven Pokemon themed ANA jets, the most recent one coming out in 2012.

On board, flight attendants wear Pokemon aprons and serve juice in Pokemon cups. It’s a kid’s dream, really. (Photo Copyright Suoh Sato/Flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/19031653@N00/115168392/)