Airline liveries can sometimes be a bit dull - but not this selection. Here are nine eye-catching schemes that turned heads wherever they went.
Nandos DC-9
The popular South African fast-food chain Nandos made an appearance on this 1time Airline McDonnell Douglas DC-9.
The jet, NS-NRC (c/n 47090) was painted in the livery from February 2004 until December 2005 when it was withdrawn from use by the carrier. (Photo Aviation Image Network/Bailey)
Virgin Australia’s Close Shave
This Virgin Australia (formerly Virgin Blue) Boeing 737-800 features a sponsored livery from American safety razor brand Gillette.
The aircraft, VH-VOI (c/n 30786) was operated by the carrier from 2002 until 2006. (Photo Aviation Image Network/Bailey)
ANA’s Pokémon Jets
Since July 1998, All Nippon Airways has painted ten separate aircraft in special Pokémon liveries.
This Boeing 747, JA8956 (c/n 25640) wore the paint scheme from November 2004 until October 2013 when the widebody was retired from service. (Photo Aviation Image Network/Bailey)
'McDonalds' MD-83
This Crossair MD-83 seemingly replaced McDonnell Douglas with McDonalds when it was painted in a special scheme featuring the fast-food restaurant chain.
The jet, HB-IUH (c/n 53150) displayed the livery for four years from March 1996 to March 2000. (Photo Aviation Image Network/Simon Gregory)
Mickey Mouse Visits Alaska
This Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-400, N784AS (c/n 28199) was painted in a special Mickey Mouse livery in support of an advertising campaign for Disney Land.
The narrowbody wore the paint scheme from 1996 until it was returned to its lessor at the end of 2009. (Photo Aviation Image Network/Bailey)
Star Wars Widebody
All Nippon Airways is known for its unique liveries and this Star Wars themed Boeing 777-300ER is no exception.
The widebody, JA789A (c/n 40687) was painted in March 2016 and continues to sport the space-themed livery to this day. (Photo Aviation Image Network/Bailey)
Having a Whale of a Time
This Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 has been turned into a whale in support of an advertising campaign by Orlando-based theme park, SeaWorld.
The narrowbody, N713SW (c/n 27847) was painted in the scheme from July 2005 to January 2015. (Photo Aviation Image Network/Simon Gregory)
'No One Saw Us Coming'
Dubbed the ‘camoplane’, this Kulula.com Boeing 737-400, ZS-OAF (c/n 25116) was painted in a special green camouflage design.
The 30-year-old narrowbody served with the South African airline – which is a Comair subsidiary – from 2008 until 2017. (Photo Aviation Image Network/Bailey)
Supersonic Soft Drinks
With its market share shrinking, Pepsi embarked upon a large-scale advertising and re-branding campaign in 1996.
Pepsi approached both British Airways and Air France to request that they paint one of their airframes in the classic blue colour in support of the re-branding.
Air France was eventually awarded the contract and painted F-BTSD (c/n 213) according to Pepsi's designs. The soft drinks producer then leased the aircraft for two weeks, during which, the jet visited ten cities. (Photo Wikimedia Commons/Richard Vandervord)
