SWISS is nearing the point where it will introduce the Airbus A350-900 into its fleet. The first aircraft has rolled out, with a very different livery, with a story to match
The livery – called ‘SWISS Wanderlust’ – was rolled out at Airbus’s Toulouse factory
The delivery of the new Airbus A350 marks a further milestone in the SWISS story. And to mark the occasion, the first of these brand-new long-haul SWISS twinjets has been given a very special look. Whilst it may appear to be a sophisticated paint job, the new livery has actually been achieved through the use of specially certified precision-cut films.
It marks a first for Airbus, too, as they have never had one of their aircraft have so much film applied so extensively.
The application of the artistically designed motifs onto the new aircraft required the most careful preparation. The specialists at Airbus used tailored 3D software to project the designs onto the airframe, and then divided the resulting ‘picture’ into some 360 precision-cut films. Each of these was then applied manually to the millimetre to its assigned location on the fuselage or the engine nacelles. Each of the motifs thus consists of multiple painstakingly matched film elements, which collectively cover a total area of some 380 square meters. Airbus even developed a special procedure for the project that pays due and full regard to all the relevant safety, durability and aerodynamic requirements, while still maintaining all the livery’s artistic merit and appeal.
The Livery
The special livery for SWISS’s first Airbus A350 is a playful, creative and storied homage from the company to its Swiss roots and home. Its various motifs include famous buildings, well-known landmarks and traditional sports and cultural events. Each illustration thus captures a key facet of Switzerland, ranging from its natural attractions to its people and its cultural variety.
These include Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse, Basel art show, Bern’s old town, Lake Geneva, The Locarno Film Festival, The Freddie Mercury statue at Montreux, Lucerne’s wooden bridge, St. Moritz’s Ice Horse Racing and Wengen’s World Cup Ski Racing – to name a few.
The various elements of the striking special livery of SWISS’s first Airbus A350 – like the marmot, Freddie Mercury and the Federal Parliament Building – are more than just images and designs. They offer an interactive experience, too. Visitors to swiss.com/treasurehunt can use augmented reality (AR) to explore all the livery’s illustrations. As they do so, they can also take part in a special ‘SWISS Treasure Hunt’ to find hidden details, solve intriguing puzzles and – with a little luck – win the main prize of an A350 flight for two in the new SWISS Business Class cabin.
Not just yet, though…
Whilst the aircraft is out of the paint shop at Toulouse, there’s still plenty of work to be done.
Before it is delivered to Switzerland in late summer, though, the new long-haul twinjet will complete its final preparations at Airbus in Toulouse. There, as part of the flight line, the aircraft will have its engines and all its systems thoroughly checked and tested, and will also perform its first pre-delivery flights.
For an airline with such a defined and recognisable livery (if a little… dull), it’s going to be something different to see and spot in the skies, as well as promoting interactivity with their design.
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