Gallery: Airlines’ Spirits Still Soar in Special Liveries

Southwest Airlines celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first flight by unveiling Freedom One, a Boeing 737-800 emblazoned with a stylized flag of the US. The specialty plane features 50 stars and 13 stripes in a tribute to 50 years of the Dallas-based carrier’s service, which it called “a symbol of unwavering pride for our nation and its heroes.”

Despite a dismal 2020, Qatar Airways looks to brighter days ahead as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The new livery, painted on a Boeing 777, entered service Nov. 21, 2020, which was exactly two years before the start of the World Cup in Qatar.

Qantas turned 100 on Nov. 16, 2020. Even though 2020 was a tough year and its planes were grounded, the Australian flag carrier’s spirits soared.

A Cargolux Airlines Boeing 747-8 received its own mask, reflecting the airline’s commitment to the fight against COVID-19 in 2020. The words “Not Without My Mask” are written on the aircraft.

United Airlines—in a galaxy which now seems far, far away, in November 2019—teamed up with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the epic conclusion of the Skywalker saga, for a special livery on a Boeing 737-800. The design captures the exotic atmosphere of the Star Wars galaxy and features imagery of famous Star Wars spacecraft, including the X-wing and TIE fighter starships. The aircraft's tail starkly displays a different colored lightsaber – the weapon of the Jedi – against a black backdrop on each side, reflecting the two sides of the Force.

Alaska Airlines’ “Honoring Those Who Serve” special livery was “dedicated to the brave men and women of the US military, as well as veterans of the armed forces and their families. Its unique exterior paint scheme, conceived by a small group of Alaska maintenance technicians, was designed to symbolize remembrance, pride, and appreciation. The special livery was created in partnership with Boeing. The design includes a red stripe and blue aircraft body to incorporate elements of the American flag; the phrase “Honoring Those Who Serve,” displayed on the fuselage; a symbolic crest representing the Alaska Airlines Fallen Soldier Program to the right of the cargo door; and an “Alaska Airlines Salutes” medallion on the right of the boarding door near the nose of the aircraft, with five stars representing the five branches of the US Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

New York-based JetBlue Airways special livery honors those who serve the US.

Japan Airlines (JAL) became a supporting partner for what was to be the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo this summer, which is now postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This livery—featuring official Tokyo 2020 mascots Miraitowa and Someity—is part of JAL’s “Fly for it” campaign on domestic routes.

Anticipating the now-postponed 2020 Olympic summer games in Tokyo, Japan Airlines (JAL) had partnered with All Nippon Airways (ANA) to transport the Olympic flame throughout Japan. On March 20, the JAL Boeing 787-8 with a special livery began the Olympic Torch relay, which flew from Athens to Japan. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has postponed the games until July 2021.

Garuda Indonesia launched its “Let’s Wear Mask” campaign in October 2020 by unveiling a special mask livery on an Airbus A330-900neo to increase public awareness of implementing health protocols, especially through wearing masks in daily activities.