The 15 Coolest Airline Paint Jobs In the World

British Airways Airbus A380-800
A British Airways Airbus A380. Flickr/redlegsfan21

As airlines and airplanes have evolved, so have their "liveries" — the exterior designs, including paint colors and logos, on the aircraft.

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As planes crisscross the globe, their exterior graphics not only represent the companies that operate them, but in many instances also serve as visual ambassadors for their respective homelands.

A great airline livery gives onlookers a taste of a carrier's values or its culture's ethos in an attractive and effective color scheme.

Airlines like Southwest, Spirit, and American have recently updated their liveries, with mixed results.

Others have hit home runs. Here's a selection of 15 airline exterior designs that look simply amazing.

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15. Air Malta: The national airline of the small Mediterranean island nation recently revamped its livery to feature the Maltese Cross prominently on the tail and wingtips.

Air Malta Airbus A319
Flckr/BriYYZ

14. China Southern Airlines: Based out its hub in the city of Guangzhou, China Southern is the country's largest airline. Its elegant exterior design features a combination of multiple hues of blue with its tail dominated by a brilliant red kapok flower.

China Southern Airlines Airbus A380-800
Wikimedia Commons
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13. Asiana: The Seoul, Korea-based airline may not have the eye-catching turquoise paint scheme of its rival — Korean Air — but its simple yet elegant design depicting a blossoming flower is still one of the best around.

Asiana Airbus A330-300
Flickr/Aero Icarus

12. Arik Air: The upstart Nigerian airline flies with this attractive maroon-and-blue paint scheme.

Airbus_A340 500_Arik_Air_(ARA)_CS TFX
Wikimedia Commons/Laurent ERRERA
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11. Skyteam: Although Skyteam is an airline alliance and not a single airline, its grey-and-blue livery, adorning many of the member fleets, is one of the most chic in the skies.

Skyteam Delta Boeing 767
Flckr/Allen Watkin

10. British Airways: With a waving Union Jack adorning the tail, British Airways delivers a modern take on traditional British elegance.

British Airways Airbus A380-800
Flickr/airwolfhound
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9. Swiss International Airlines: Swiss International's eurowhite-and-red design is pure understated style.

Swiss International Airlines Airbus A330-343X
Flickr/Aero Icarus

8. American Airlines: This is American's first new exterior design since the 1960's era polished metallic. Although the rebranding has been controversial, the new paint scheme is an effective modern take on American's eagle-and-flag motif.

American Airlines Boeing 767-323ER
Flickr/Eric Salard
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7. Hainan Airlines: China's largest privately-owned airline has livery that evokes elements of China's culture and history. For the Chinese, red is symbolic of happiness and good fortune, while gold was the official color of China's imperial past.

Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Flickr/BriYYZ

6. Kulula: This South African low-cost carriers has built quite a reputation for interesting liveries, but its best effort so far is the 'Flying 101' design that doubles as a teaching tool for anyone interested in the different parts of an airliner.

Kalula Boeing 737-800
Wikimedia Commons
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Here's the view from the other side.

Kalula Boeing 737-800
Wikimedia Commons

5.Fiji Airways: The recently re-branded Air Pacific is the national airline of Fiji. Its tribal-esque exterior is evocative of the island's rich native culture.

Fiji Airways Airbus A330-243
Flickr/Alan Wilson
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4. Virgin Atlantic Airways: As with all Virgin Group companies, Virgin Atlantic carries Richard Branson's signature corporate logo. Even though it's been around in various iterations for a couple of decades now, the design still looks as modern and stylish as it did on the day it debuted.

Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-400 G VAST
Wikimedia Commons

3. Air Seychelles: Air Seychelles is the national airline for the eponymous small island nation situated off the coast of Africa. Its stunning livery consists of a pair of 'fairy terns' flowing amid a sea of tropical colors.

Air_Seychelles Boeing 767-300ER
Wikimedia Commons
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2. Hawaiian Airlines: Even 40 years after its founding, the airline's trademark Pualani (Flower of the Sky) logo is still the most beautiful and distinctive in the business.

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 N383HA
Wikimedia Commons

1. Air New Zealand: Our winner! With its teal-and-white livery, dominated by the Maori Koru logo on the tail, this airline's planes are a pleasure to look at. However, as good as the normal paint scheme may be, this carrier's specialty jobs are even better...

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-200ER
Flickr/InSapphoWeTrust
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...like its Boeing Dreamliner, painted in honor of the country's all-conquering rugby squad — the 'All Blacks.'

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Air New Zealand
AP

Or this Hobbit-themed design that promotes the movies filmed in the country.

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-319ER
Flickr/Simon_sees
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And as the 'Official Airline of Middle Earth,' it's only fitting that the fearsome dragon Smaug adorns the sides of some of Air New Zealand's planes.

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-319ER
Flickr/Alan Wilson

Bonus: No design is quite as evocative and effective in projecting American power as the one on Air Force One. Operated by the US Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing, the pair of Boeing 747-200-based VC25A's that ferry the Presidents around will literally bring any airport in the world to a screeching halt.

Air Force One
Flickr/Joe Bielawa
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These airlines are as good as they look...

The Best Airlines_3x4
Mike Nudelman/Business Insider

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