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Take a look at the 15 coolest airline paint jobs in the skies
Flickr/redlegsfan21
As airlines and airplanes have evolved, so have their "liveries" — the exterior designs, including paint colors and logos, on the aircraft.
As planes crisscross the globe, their exterior graphics not only represent the companies that operate them, but in many instances also serve as visual ambassadors for their respective homelands.
A great airline livery gives onlookers a taste of a carrier's values or its culture's ethos in an attractive and effective color scheme.
You mess with this at your own peril. Airlines like Southwest, Spirit, and American have recently updated their liveries, with mixed results.
Others have hit home runs. Here's a selection of 15 airline exterior designs that look simply amazing.
15. Air Malta: The national airline of the small Mediterranean island nation recently revamped its livery to feature the Maltese Cross prominently on the tail and wingtips.
Flckr/BriYYZ
14. China Southern Airlines: Based out its hub in the city of Guangzhou, China Southern is the country's largest airline. Its elegant exterior design features a combination of multiple hues of blue with its tail dominated by a brilliant red kapok flower.
Wikimedia Commons
13. Asiana: The Seoul, Korea-based airline may not have the eye-catching turquoise paint scheme of its rival — Korean Air — but its simple yet elegant design depicting a blossoming flower is still one of the best around.
Flickr/Aero Icarus
12. Arik Air: The upstart Nigerian airline flies with this attractive maroon-and-blue paint scheme.
Wikimedia Commons/Laurent ERRERA
11. Skyteam: Although Skyteam is an airline alliance and not a single airline, its grey-and-blue livery, adorning many of the member fleets, is one of the most chic in the skies.
Flckr/Allen Watkin
10. British Airways: With a waving Union Jack adorning the tail, British Airways delivers a modern take on traditional British elegance.
Flickr/airwolfhound
9. Swiss International Airlines: Swiss International's eurowhite-and-red design is pure understated style.
Flickr/Aero Icarus
8. American Airlines: This is American's first new exterior design since the 1960's era polished metallic. Although the rebranding has been controversial, the new paint scheme is an effective modern take on American's eagle-and-flag motif.
Flickr/Eric Salard
7. Hainan Airlines: China's largest privately-owned airline has livery that evokes elements of China's culture and history. For the Chinese, red is symbolic of happiness and good fortune, while gold was the official color of China's imperial past.
Flickr/BriYYZ
