The flag carrier of Luxembourg has applied a stunning special livery to one of its Boeing 737s as part of 60th anniversary celebrations for Luxair.
The exact aircraft involved is an eight-year-old, 186-seat 737-800 registered LX-LGV (c/n 41190) – pictured. A Luxembourgish artist called Marco Weiten is responsible for the eye-catching scheme which, according to the airline, is a way of “symbolising the rebirth and promising future of Luxair”.
Among the array of vibrant colours, one of the most notable features of the livery includes the Luxembourgish symbol, Roude Léiw – translating into English as ‘Red Lion’ – which is depicted like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Marco Weiten explained about the colourscheme: “60 years of Luxair: flight, history, power, energy and skill, serenity and the desire to give the best. Let's celebrate 60 years together with this lively design. Luxair's colours symbolically run through the different decades and unite in a strong Luxembourg symbol, the red lion. It represents a Luxembourg tradition, but here it rises from its ashes like a phoenix and all the colours converge in it, the dawn of a fantastic future. All together we are a positive sign of respect, competence, teaching and practice. At 60 years, Luxair is just beginning to fly... the future is now.”
Earlier this year, Luxair launched an appeal for artists from “Luxembourg and the Greater Region”, with the carrier inviting participants to draw their vision of the airline’s future, while simultaneously highlighting its important values such as audacity, diversity, inclusion and innovation.
With more than 60 designs having been received, pre-selection was established by staff from Luxair in April, with 11 works shortlisted. Then, the following month, Marco Weiten was selected as the winning entry by bosses at the airline as well as by a professional jury of artists and art experts.
Gilles Feith, Luxair CEO, added: “This year is placed under the sign of the 60th anniversary of the first Luxair flight and I am delighted to be able to celebrate it with such a work signed by Marco. His realistic and colourful art convinced us, and I am confident that it will be the same for all the people who will see this plane, in Luxembourg but also through all the other destinations to which it will fly. On this livery, the strongest symbol of Luxembourg [Roude Léiw] turns into a phoenix, perfectly symbolising Luxair's hoped for path for the future. I think the goal of this contest, which is to share a positive message that will touch the hearts of as many people as possible, has been successfully achieved.”
The 737 – LX-LGV – made its first fare-paying sortie with this special livery adorned on the connection to Tenerife/South in the Canary Islands on June 29 – since then it’s flown to another holiday hotspot destination with Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands.
The actual 60th anniversary of Luxair’s first flight was on March 31 – on this day in 1962 it flew to Paris’ Le Bourget Airport.
