Brussels Airlines (SN-BEL) is no stranger to creative aircraft liveries. Their latest achievement, a stunning celebration to Tintin’s lunar adventure, rolled out of Airborne Colours’ painting facility in Teesside, England on February 11th. The Airbus A320-200 (OO-SNJ) is the second Tintin-themed aircraft in Brussels arsenal. It joins a colorful fleet that historically has honored Belgian cultural exports ranging from the Smurfs to famous painters.
A lunar inspired livery
The latest livery pays homage to the classic Tintin two part story Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon. Aficionado’s will immediately identify these as the books in which Tintin, Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, and Snowy become the first to walk on the lunar surface. Almost two decades after the story started running in the Belgian Tintin magazine, a certain astronaut team led by Neil Armstrong would follow in their footsteps.
Both sides of the aircraft feature distinct imagery from both books. The lefthand side depicts Tintin floating in weightlessness with the moon painted near the rear. The other side showcases Tintin’s trusted companion Snowy and, shall we say, “almost-as-trusted-companion” Captain Haddock. Our favorite detail however is somewhat hidden. On the aircraft’s belly, the iconic red and white checkered moon rocket is painted. Whoever made that design call, we’re saluting you with a virtual “chef’s kiss”. Topping it all off is the signature of Hergé, the creator of Tintin, decorating both engine cowlings.
A Tintin inspired cabin
The homage doesn’t end with the rather striking exterior. The cabin interior has been getting some love as well. The floor carpet running down the center aisle has been space-ified (don’t look that word up, please). Additionally, the overhead compartments and bulkheads have all been striped in imagery out of the two comic books. One even has Herge’s greeting to the first lunar crew printed on it:
“À force de croire en ses rêves, l’Homme en fait une réalité”
In English: “By believing in his dreams long enough, Man turns them into reality”
We’re getting goose bumps.
All in with Tintin
As alluded to earlier, this actually is the second Tintin-themed aircraft currently operating on the line for Brussels. The first, dubbed “Rackham” (OO-SNB), was introduced in 2015 and remains a passenger and spotter favorite more than a decade later. Named after another two part adventure, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure, it is a stunner featuring Tintin’s shark submarine based on Hergé’s original drawing.
Rather than repaint the aircraft using a more somber palette, Brussels has decided to keep Rackham in the air until 2027, when the by then 25-year-old A320 is scheduled for retirement. That in turn means that European skies will for a period of at least a year be graced by two Tintin aircraft.
More Brussels Airlines liveries
Last but not least, let’s not forget the rest of the aircraft in Brussel Airline’s fleet that currently don iconic Belgian flavored liveries.
- Trident (OO-SNO) – Dedicated to Belgium’s national football teams, the Red Devils and Red Flames (current version introduced November 2022)
- Amare (OO-SBB) – A collaboration with the Tomorrowland music festival (second edition revealed April 2024)
- Atomium (OO-SNM) – Unveiled in March 2025, featuring Belgium’s iconic landmark
Previous stand out liveries that have since been retired include Magritte (OO-SNC, 2016–2021), honoring surrealist painter René Magritte; Aerosmurf (OO-SND, 2018–2023), featuring the beloved Smurfs characters; and Bruegel (OO-SNE, 2019–2023), celebrating Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
Finally, Brussel Airlines, if you’re reading this—please consider a comeback for Aerosmurf. It would be the smurf thing to do.
3 Responses
I live directly under the flight path to Heathrow, so I was looking forward to seeing the moon rocket passing overhead, but OO-SNJ doesn’t appear to be used for Heathrow flights.
A pity they always call him Tintin while most Belgians know him as Kuifje. There are more than twice as many Belgians speaking Dutch compared to those speaking French.
One small point to make, Airborne colours are based at Teesside and not Teeside as stated in the text, I spent 25 years working there with British Midland alas no more and the route to Heathrow has long been being discontinued unfortunately.