Livery of the Week: Alaska’s Salmon Colors

The airline added this vibrant livery to a Boeing 737 last year.

Alaska’s newest special livery (Photo: Alaska Airlines)

[ Livery of the Week ]August 9, 2024 4:23 pm ET

By Ryan Ewing

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

In 2023, Alaska unveiled a new aircraft livery that celebrates its namesake state’s iconic salmon.

The Boeing 737-800 features a design created by Alaska Native artist Crystal Worl, incorporating traditional Northwest Coast form-line art.

Xáat Kwáani in the hangar. (Photo: Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines)

Named X̱áat Ḵwáani, meaning “Salmon People” in the Tlingit language, the aircraft honors the cultural and ecological significance of salmon to Alaska Native people. Worl’s artwork depicts the salmon’s life cycle and its connection to the land and people.

This is the first time an Alaska Airlines aircraft has been named in an Alaska Native language. The aircraft is registered as N559AS.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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