KLM
It may have happened a few weeks ago, but if you missed it, KLM recently revealed their “Orange Pride” aircraft. On one special 777-300ER, the well-known KLM Blue was replaced on half of the fuselage with the nations orange colour. The keel line running along the fuselage has also been adapted to reflect the nations flag. The combination emphasises KLM’s Dutch roots and pride in the national colour of the Netherlands.
The aircraft will debut this summer and will be in operation on the Rio de Janeiro-Amsterdam route during the Olympic Games. On 22 August, KLM will use its orange Boeing to operate the “Medal Flight” that brings the Dutch Olympic heroes home. KLM will also deploy the orange Boeing 777 on routine flights within the network and, whenever possible, during events that offer opportunities to promote the Netherlands.
Interestingly, it was actually last year on King’s Day that the concept was born. At the time, KLM’s followers were presented with a picture of an orange aircraft, along with the question: “Should we colour orange next year on King’s Day? #OrangeExperience.” Surprisingly there was an overwhelming response to the simple social media post, with 30,000 likes and 2,500 positive responses.
Facts and Figures
• It took four days (24/7) to respray the aircraft.
• It took 35 people to get the job done.
• 100 rolls of painter’s masking tape were used.
• 335 litres of paint were used.
• 2,000 abrasive pads were used for sanding.
• 1,000 metres of plastic sheeting were used.
• 100 dust-attracting cloths were used to remove the dust.
Qantas
Another airline to embrace the Olympics this year is Qantas. Australia’s national carrier and official airline of the Australian Olympic Team is getting behind Aussie athletes with a limited edition Australian Olympic themed version of its iconic Business Class pyjamas.
Here at TheDesignAir, we love the Qantas Pyjamas and still wear them regularly to bed. In the lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Qantas will switch out the standard grey cotton long sleeve pyjamas for a patriotic green and gold set featuring a gold kangaroo on the shirt front and hashtag #RoadToRio on the back.
From 22 July until 18 September 2016, all passengers travelling in Business Class across key international routes including Santiago, Dubai, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Dallas, Tokyo, Johannesburg and Vancouver, will be offered the opportunity to be part of the unofficial PJ Cheer squad for the Australian Olympians and Paralympians.
Qantas Group Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Olivia Wirth, said the Olympic PJ range is a special way for the airline and its passengers to throw their support behind Australia’s athletes as their years of hard work come to fruition on the world stage.
Australia’s Olympians and Paralympians will receive their own set of green and gold PJs when they and their Olympic Medals return home on a specially chartered Qantas B747. Customers in Qantas Lounges across the network can enjoy live screening and coverage of the Olympics for the duration of the Games.
TAP Portugal
On flights from July, passengers on TAP Portugal flights will also enjoy a safety video featuring Portugal’s athletes who will participate in the Olympics in 2016. The new video will be featured on the airline’s entire long haul fleet which mostly fly to South America, except the two new A330s that are now flying to the USA as part of the airline’s recent product overhaul.
Air France
Meanwhile Air France announced this week they will be branding one of their A380’s, two of their 777s and seven of their shorthaul fleet with the Paris 2024 Olympic logo in support of Paris’ bid to host the special sporting event.
TheDesignAir 