Brussels Airlines has introduced its latest livery, featuring characters from the beloved comic series Tintin. This marks the second time the Belgian carrier has honored the famous creation of cartoonist Hergé.
The newly painted A320, registered as OO-SNJ, showcases a moon and space theme drawn from Tintin’s lunar adventures. The aircraft is scheduled to make its inaugural commercial flight on February 13, 2026, departing for Milan Linate Airport (LIN) from Brussels Airport (BRU).
Design collaboration
The airline worked with Tintinimaginatio, the organization managing Hergé’s estate, to develop the aircraft’s visual concept. Nick Rodwell, CEO of Tintinimaginatio, has said that the collaboration represents “the first step towards celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Tintin on January 10, 2029”.
According to Brussels Airlines, the design team explored several creative directions before settling on the space theme, which they felt offered instant recognition and visual impact, while connecting naturally to aviation through themes of flight and exploration.
Each side of the aircraft features a different artwork – one showing Tintin and the Moon, the other Snowy and Captain Haddock. A moon rocket appears on the aircraft’s belly, creating what designers call a dynamic effect as the plane takes off, flies and lands. The background uses a gradient from midnight blue to black.
Interior theming
The space theme has been extended throughout the cabin interior. Overhead compartments display sequential visuals resembling comic book panels that tell the story of a rocket’s journey from Earth, including encounters with asteroids. The design also incorporates a handwritten quote from Hergé: “By believing in his dreams long enough, Man turns them into reality.”
Passengers will find additional Tintin characters, including Thomson and Thompson, featured on cabin bulkheads, while the aircraft’s floor carpet features subtle references to outer space.
Belgian Icons program
The new Tintin aircraft joins Brussels Airlines’ Belgian Icons collection, a series of specially-painted planes celebrating Belgian cultural achievements. The program began in 2015 with the first Tintin aircraft, ‘Rackham’, which remains in service and continues to be among the most photographed commercial aircraft worldwide.
Brussels Airlines CEO Dorothea von Boxberg described the initiative as part of the airline’s mission to “showcase Belgian creativity around the world” and bring “a piece of Belgium in the air”.
The current Belgian Icons fleet takes in aircraft honoring Belgium’s national football teams (Trident), the Tomorrowland music festival (Amare), and the Brussels Atomium landmark. Previous designs have featured surrealist painter René Magritte, the Smurfs characters, and Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
Cultural significance
Comics hold a significant cultural importance in Belgium, with the country producing several influential series beyond Tintin, including the Smurfs and Asterix. However, Hergé’s work has maintained international appeal across generations, making Tintin a natural choice to represent Belgian culture on aircraft that travel worldwide.
The timing aligns with growing interest in Tintin’s legacy as the character approaches its centennial anniversary. The space-themed design specifically draws from ‘Destination Moon’ and ‘Explorers on the Moon’, two of Hergé’s most technically ambitious stories that preceded actual lunar exploration by decades.
Brussels-based Airbourne Colors handled the aircraft painting, continuing a partnership with Brussels Airlines for the Belgian Icons series. The airline plans to operate the new Tintin aircraft alongside the existing ‘Rackham’ until 2027, when the older aircraft is scheduled for retirement.
The Belgian Icons program demonstrates a trend among airlines for using aircraft liveries to promote cultural identity and tourism, while simultaneously generating social media attention and brand recognition.
