Brussels Airlines is preparing to add one more ‘Best of Belgium’ livery to its fleet and it is requesting collaboration from the public. From the Belgian public to be more exact, because to participate you will need to be a resident or a national of Belgium and be over 16 years of age.
Those taking part in the contest can download a blank aircraft template on which to apply their design. They will then have until September 27, 2024, to submit the design online via a dedicated section on Brussels Airlines website. The winner will be announced in early October 2024.
The goal of the campaign, which has taken place for several years in a row, is to celebrate and raise awareness of Belgian cultural icons.
In a press release announcing the launch of the campaign, Michel Moriaux, Head of Marketing at Brussels Airlines, explained that the ideal design should showcase some iconic element evocative of Belgium, its culture, nature, or history. In its search for originality, the airline wants to stay away from topics that may be seen as too stereotypical or cliché (no beer or chocolate, please!) as well as from specific brands.
The winning design will then be converted into a technical drawing with the support of a creative agency. In addition to the pride of having a design painted on an A320-sized aircraft, which will enter service from March 2025, the winner of the contest will also get to travel Business class anywhere in Europe with a companion, every year for the next five years.
As of August 2024, Brussels Airlines operates three Airbus A320 family aircraft painted with ‘Best of Belgium’ liveries: ‘Rackham’, which is inspired by the world of comic character Tintin, ‘Amare’, which is the result of a cooperation with renowned music festival Tomorrowland, and ‘Trident’, which acts as the official plane of the Belgian male and female football teams, known as the Red Devils and the Red Flames, respectively.
Past ‘Best of Belgium’ liveries have touched upon the art world, such as those celebrating 16th Century Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder and surrealist painter René Magritte, as well as cartoons, with the ‘Aerosmurf’ aircraft depicting the world of the popular tiny, blue, and white characters.
