18 of the coolest aircraft paint jobs you’ll ever see

By Chris Dwyer, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 11:09 AM EDT, Mon June 18, 2018
<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="https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-airlines/who-is-the-eskimo/" 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