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.
Azores Airlines’ standard livery centers on a stylized whale tail graphic that stretches across the vertical stabilizer and rear fuselage, reflecting the airline’s identity as the international arm of the Azores archipelago’s flag carrier. The design references the islands’ long-standing connection to the Atlantic Ocean and their modern reputation as one of the world’s premier whale-watching destinations.
The whale motif is rendered in a dark blue gradient against a white fuselage, forming a clean silhouette that resembles the fluke of a whale emerging from the water. The graphic flows forward from the tail, creating a sense of motion while maintaining a relatively simple overall layout.
Forward of the wing, the fuselage carries bold “Azores” titles in dark blue lettering, with “Airlines” appearing in smaller type beneath. The placement emphasizes the destination branding of the islands themselves rather than the airline alone, reinforcing the carrier’s role in connecting the Portuguese archipelago to North America and mainland Europe.
The livery is applied consistently across the airline’s fleet of Airbus A320-family aircraft and Airbus A321neo long-range jets. While proportions vary depending on aircraft size, the whale tail graphic remains the defining visual element across the fleet.
Azores Airlines introduced the design as part of a broader brand refresh that sought to modernize the carrier’s image while highlighting the natural environment that defines the islands. The maritime theme reflects both the region’s history and its contemporary tourism identity.
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