<strong>How to paint an airplane:</strong> The thickness of these paint layers is very important, since each additional layer of paint adds weight to the aircraft.
How to paint an airplane: The thickness of these paint layers is very important, since each additional layer of paint adds weight to the aircraft.
Courtesy Airbus
<strong>Inside the Airbus paint shop:</strong> More weight means higher fuel consumption and this adds up over the operational life of the aircraft, with significant economic and environmental consequences.
Inside the Airbus paint shop: More weight means higher fuel consumption and this adds up over the operational life of the aircraft, with significant economic and environmental consequences.
Courtesy Airbus
<strong>Stencils and decals:</strong> Stencils are usually used to create livery designs, though decals are sometimes used instead.
Stencils and decals: Stencils are usually used to create livery designs, though decals are sometimes used instead.
Courtesy Airbus
<strong>ANA's Airbus A380: </strong>All Nippon Airways' Flying Honu A380 was created using 16 different types of paint.
ANA's Airbus A380: All Nippon Airways' Flying Honu A380 was created using 16 different types of paint.
Courtesy Airbus
<strong>Sichuan Airlines: </strong>Jean-François Paul, head of the Airbus paint center, tells CNN one of his favorite liveries is the Sichuan Airlines panda-themed A350-900, delivered to the Chinese airline in 2018.
Sichuan Airlines: Jean-François Paul, head of the Airbus paint center, tells CNN one of his favorite liveries is the Sichuan Airlines panda-themed A350-900, delivered to the Chinese airline in 2018.
Courtesy Airbus
<strong>'To infinity and beyond':</strong> The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 with a Disney-Pixar "Toy Story" livery took IAC a whole 21 days to complete.
'To infinity and beyond': The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 with a Disney-Pixar "Toy Story" livery took IAC a whole 21 days to complete.
Courtesy IAC
<strong>Schedule:</strong> "Large airlines with hundreds of aircraft, such as United or Southwest, have a schedule to repaint their aircraft with certain regularity, usually every six years or so," explains Nikki Thomas from IAC, the world's largest independent aircraft painting firm.
Schedule: "Large airlines with hundreds of aircraft, such as United or Southwest, have a schedule to repaint their aircraft with certain regularity, usually every six years or so," explains Nikki Thomas from IAC, the world's largest independent aircraft painting firm.
Courtesy IAC
<strong>Virgin Atlantic A350:</strong> This livery uses special effect paint, which contains tiny aluminum particles and and other specific pigments that produce a unique glittering effect.
Virgin Atlantic A350: This livery uses special effect paint, which contains tiny aluminum particles and and other specific pigments that produce a unique glittering effect.
Courtesy Virgin Atlantic