Tintin gets fresh paint

Brussels Airlines will repaint its iconic Tintin Airbus A320 Rackham (OO-SNB, msn 1493) after it reached its repainting deadline this year. The outer paint job will remain identical, while the interior will be decorated with brand-new Tintin illustrations.

The airline will undertake the restoration project in partnership with Moulinsart studio, which owns the rights to the works of Tintin creator Hergé. Moulinsart took part in the original painting project and will team up with Brussels Airlines’ maintenance division once again, and they expect to have the repaint completed in June 2021.

The paint scheme is derived from the twelfth volume of The Adventures of Tintin, ‘Red Rackham’s Treasure.’ In the story, Tintin and his dog Snowy search for hidden pirate treasure in a shark-themed submarine. This inspired the final design on Rackham, which depicts Tintin and Snowy submerged in the ocean and a shark head at the aircraft’s nose.

After Rackham went down as a hit, Brussels Airlines started working on other unique liveries for its fleet. In 2016, the carrier introduced two more planes with special colours – Magritte (OO-SNC, msn 1797) and Trident Belgian Red Devils (OO-SNA, msn 1441).

Brussels Airlines followed up with three more unique liveries – Amare Tomorrowland (OO-SNF, msn 2810), Aerosmurf (OO-SND, msn 1838) and Peter Bruegel The Elder (OO-SNE, msn 4243). While Tintin gets a fresh repaint Magritte will be repainted in regular Star Alliance colours. Additionally, Trident will receive a partial repaint and an updated interior and is currently set to leave the fleet in November 2022.

With Rackham’s restored livery and new interior set to be completed next month, Brussels Airlines has promised that it will be a part of the fleet for at least the next five years.

Photos: Eric Vangeel, Jochem Jottier and Airbus