<strong>The best airplane liveries:</strong> Pop culture tie-ins are one of the airline industry's favorite reasons to deck out a plane in a fancy new coat of paint. Here are a few of our favorites. The latest airline to join in on the fun is Alaska Airlines, who debuted a new plane in honor of "The Incredibles 2."
The best airplane liveries: Pop culture tie-ins are one of the airline industry's favorite reasons to deck out a plane in a fancy new coat of paint. Here are a few of our favorites. The latest airline to join in on the fun is Alaska Airlines, who debuted a new plane in honor of "The Incredibles 2."
Courtesy Alaska Airlines
<strong>Nok Air -- Birds: </strong>Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Thailand's Nok Air has settled this question once and for all: it's a bird plane.
Nok Air -- Birds: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Thailand's Nok Air has settled this question once and for all: it's a bird plane.
Shutterstock
<strong>China Eastern -- 'Toy Story':</strong> This movie-airplane tie-in makes a perfect excuse to say "to infinity and beyond!"
China Eastern -- 'Toy Story': This movie-airplane tie-in makes a perfect excuse to say "to infinity and beyond!"
Courtesy Shanghai Disney Resort
<strong>Alaska Airlines -- Eskimo:</strong> Alaska Airlines' Eskimo logo isn't based on any one person; he's designed to <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.alaskaair.com%2Falaska-airlines%2Fwho-is-the-eskimo%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">represent native Alaskans</a>.
Alaska Airlines -- Eskimo: Alaska Airlines' Eskimo logo isn't based on any one person; he's designed to represent native Alaskans.
Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Air New Zealand -- 'Lord of the Rings':</strong> The "Lord of the Rings" phenomenon transformed the Kiwi travel industry, so it was fitting that national carrier Air New Zealand got in on the fun.
Air New Zealand -- 'Lord of the Rings': The "Lord of the Rings" phenomenon transformed the Kiwi travel industry, so it was fitting that national carrier Air New Zealand got in on the fun.
Air New Zealand/Getty Images
<strong>KLM -- Delft: </strong>In honor of its beloved blue-and-white pottery, the Netherlands' national airline put the pattern on a plane.
KLM -- Delft: In honor of its beloved blue-and-white pottery, the Netherlands' national airline put the pattern on a plane.
Flickr
<strong>Icelandair -- Northern Lights: </strong>Not only is the livery of Icelandair's Boeing 757's Hekla Aurora design impressive, cabin lighting inside the plane also mimics the Northern Lights.
Icelandair -- Northern Lights: Not only is the livery of Icelandair's Boeing 757's Hekla Aurora design impressive, cabin lighting inside the plane also mimics the Northern Lights.
courtesy Icelandair
<strong>Kulula -- Flying 101: </strong>If there's a better or more striking way to understand what's underneath the skin of a plane that Kulula's Flying 101 livery design, we've yet to see it. There's even a pointer to highlight the location of the "black box" flight data recorder.<br />
Kulula -- Flying 101: If there's a better or more striking way to understand what's underneath the skin of a plane that Kulula's Flying 101 livery design, we've yet to see it. There's even a pointer to highlight the location of the "black box" flight data recorder.
Kulula/Gary Shephard
<strong>ANA -- 'Star Wars': </strong>Arguably the world's most popular robot, in 2015 R2-D2 took to the skies in the form of All Nippon Airways's livery. Japan's largest airline has subsequently added C-3PO and BB-8 planes to its fleet.
ANA -- 'Star Wars': Arguably the world's most popular robot, in 2015 R2-D2 took to the skies in the form of All Nippon Airways's livery. Japan's largest airline has subsequently added C-3PO and BB-8 planes to its fleet.
Lucasfilm Ltd/ANA
<strong>Brussels Airlines -- Tintin:</strong> Brussels Airlines's A320 takes the form of a 37-meter shark submarine from the Tintin adventure "Red Rackham's Treasure." Passengers can even read Tintin books inflight in English, French and Dutch.
Brussels Airlines -- Tintin: Brussels Airlines's A320 takes the form of a 37-meter shark submarine from the Tintin adventure "Red Rackham's Treasure." Passengers can even read Tintin books inflight in English, French and Dutch.
Shutterstock
<strong>Eva Air -- Gudetama:</strong> The hugely popular Sanrio character Gudetama -- a morose and lazy egg yolk -- graces an Eva Air plane that flies the Taipei to Tokyo route.
Eva Air -- Gudetama: The hugely popular Sanrio character Gudetama -- a morose and lazy egg yolk -- graces an Eva Air plane that flies the Taipei to Tokyo route.
courtesy EVA Air
<strong>Virgin Atlantic -- 'Where's Waldo?': </strong>Virgin Atlantic marked the 25th anniversary of "Where's Waldo?" with a special livery.
Virgin Atlantic -- 'Where's Waldo?': Virgin Atlantic marked the 25th anniversary of "Where's Waldo?" with a special livery.
courtesy Virgin Atlantic
<strong>Azores Airlines -- Whale: </strong>In a nod to the Azores' claim to being one of the largest whale sanctuaries in the world, the Azores Airlines transformed its livery into a blue sperm whale. <br />
Azores Airlines -- Whale: In a nod to the Azores' claim to being one of the largest whale sanctuaries in the world, the Azores Airlines transformed its livery into a blue sperm whale.
courtesy Azores Airlines
<strong>PNG Air -- AIR: </strong>PNG Air's new livery on its fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft was designed to reflect Papua New Guinea's diversity and the traditional iconography of its people.
PNG Air -- AIR: PNG Air's new livery on its fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft was designed to reflect Papua New Guinea's diversity and the traditional iconography of its people.
courtesy PNG Air
<strong>Qatar Airways -- Barcelona: </strong>As a sponsor of F.C. Barcelona, Qatar airline launched a Barca-themed plane featuring the club's flag. A natty shading element on the flag design appears to make it move during takeoff.
Qatar Airways -- Barcelona: As a sponsor of F.C. Barcelona, Qatar airline launched a Barca-themed plane featuring the club's flag. A natty shading element on the flag design appears to make it move during takeoff.
courtesy qatar airways
<strong>Westjet -- 'Frozen': </strong>Canadian airline Westjet teamed up with Disney and brought in painters from Canada, the United States and Germany to bring this "Frozen"-themed livery to life.
Westjet -- 'Frozen': Canadian airline Westjet teamed up with Disney and brought in painters from Canada, the United States and Germany to bring this "Frozen"-themed livery to life.
courtesy Westjet
<strong>Jetstar -- Singaporeans: </strong>This aircraft design featuring a black-naped oriole -- a bird commonly found in Singapore -- and the faces of 50 everyday Singaporeans was Jetstar's way of marking Singapore's 50th National Day in 2015.
Jetstar -- Singaporeans: This aircraft design featuring a black-naped oriole -- a bird commonly found in Singapore -- and the faces of 50 everyday Singaporeans was Jetstar's way of marking Singapore's 50th National Day in 2015.
courtesy Jetstar
<strong>British Airways -- Fashion: </strong>This British Airways 777 aircraft livery was created by fashion designer Masha Ma. The east-meets-west design depicts a bamboo and a rose and pays homage to European impressionistic artistic techniques and Chinese ink-and-wash painting.
British Airways -- Fashion: This British Airways 777 aircraft livery was created by fashion designer Masha Ma. The east-meets-west design depicts a bamboo and a rose and pays homage to European impressionistic artistic techniques and Chinese ink-and-wash painting.
courtesy British Airways