The Summer Olympics in Paris has officially begun, with the much-awaited opening ceremony taking place on July 25, 2024. And while almost everyone closely followed the ceremony’s flag and torch bearers, AeroTime has been keeping an eye on the Olympic aircraft liveries from various flag carriers.
Not unlike the four-horse chariots that carried athletes in the ancient Olympic games, Olympic-themed aircraft carry every nation’s best sportsmen and their liveries reflect national pride.
The flying chariots have arrived in Paris, and here are seven of the most striking aircraft liveries sporting the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics theme.
Air France
Let’s start with the host country’s carrier, Air France. Just days before the 2024 Summer Olympics began, the French flag carrier unveiled its latest Airbus A350-900, named ‘Paris’ in honor of the French capital city, and most importantly, the host city of this summer’s games.
The livery itself may be subtle and simple compared to other carrier’s festive, Olympic-themed offerings, but the legacy of Air France lies in the name it has given the aircraft.
Since 2019, Air France has revived its tradition of naming its aircraft after French cities, allowing the airline to promote France’s regions globally. ‘Paris’ is the latest aircraft to join the fleet, following on from ‘Lyon’, ‘Saint-Denis de la Réunion’ and ‘Grasse’ – the names of other Air France aircraft currently in service.
As for the livery design itself, the A350-900, with registration F-HUVJ, carries its new name on either side of the forward fuselage in navy blue. It also features the official logos of both the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the front of its fuselage.
Air France has planned to carry 15% of Olympic athletes and 35% of Paralympic athletes to the games, one in five of the overall total. The airline also transported 13% of members of what it calls the “Olympic and Paralympic family” to the games. Overall, the carrier expects to fly up to 125,000 customers per day during summer of 2024.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is the official airline of Team USA, which so far holds the record for the country with the most number of Olympic medals (2,667 in total comprising of 1,077 Gold, 840 Silver and 750 Bronze).
On May 2, 2024, Delta unveiled its custom Airbus A350 Team USA aircraft livery in Toulouse.
According to Delta’s Chief Marketing Officer Alicia Tillman, the plane’s new look was designed by the airline’s in-house creative team and represents Delta’s commitment to Team USA and its partnership to elevate these athletes to reach their highest potential.
The customized design features red, white and blue colors with ‘Team USA’ proudly written across its side. The livery also maintains elements of the Team USA Livery design for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, as a nod to the beginning of the partner journey, while also incorporating features that look ahead to Paris and beyond.
As the official airline of Team USA, Delta will manage travel for all American Olympic and Paralympic athletes to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, Olympic and the Paralympic Winter Games Milan 2026 – plus the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, of which it is also an inaugural founding partner.
Looking beyond Paris 2024, Delta is already preparing for Los Angeles 2028. The airline unveiled its newest livery for LA28 in June 2024.
The Airbus A350-900 can be seen sporting a special LA28 logo, marking the evolution of the relationship between Delta and the Olympic movement.
Delta and Team USA first paired up in 2020 when Delta initiated its eight-year pledge to support the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games as the inaugural founding partner.
Additionally, the airline has remained an important corporate partner of the Olympics for almost three decades, beginning back when Delta’s hub, Atlanta, hosted the Games in 1996.
Qantas
The 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney was heralded as being one of the most well-organized and successful games, and the Australian team is known for its dominance in water sports, especially swimming.
On June 13, 2024, Australian flag carrier Qantas unveiled one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft sporting a special message as a gesture of support for the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams.
Qantas shared behind-the-scenes footage of how the B787 aircraft was painted with the message ‘Go Australia’ on either side of its fuselage in the trademark green and gold Aussie colors.
in a statement during the aircraft unveiling. Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said: “Qantas has a long and proud history of supporting the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams, from first flying Olympic athletes to the London Games in 1948 to our engineers designing custom cushions and support devices for our Australian Paralympians to travel comfortably on long-haul sectors.”
Air Canada
Canada has hosted the Olympic Games three times: for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was the Canadian team’s second best performance in the games, winning a total of 24 medals, with the first at a tally of 44 medals during the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
The Canadian team excels in winter sports, particularly ice hockey, speed skating and curling.
On May 31, 2024, the Canadian flag carrier announced the renewal of its partnership as the Official Airline of Team Canada until the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, including Paris 2024.
The Canadian flag carrier unveiled one of its aircraft, a 17-year old Boeing 777 registered as C-FITW, with a special livery to transport Team Canada Olympians and Paralympians, coaches and support staff to and from the Games. The aircraft sports the inspirational message ‘Go, Canada, Go!’ on its fuselage.
As the official Team Canada airline, Air Canada will provide special service and transport for all Team Canada athletes traveling to the games, as well as:
- extending complimentary 35K Aeroplan Elite status through its Podium Program;
- providing individual Care & Share packages to athletes for added comfort in-flight, including Amenity Kit items and memorabilia to share at the games;
- Having on the ground presence at both Canada Olympic House and Canada Paralympic House in Paris, showcasing the best of Canada and aviation hospitality and cheering on Team Canada with attendees;
- and holding airport celebrations as athletes depart and return from the games.
Air Canada has been the official airline of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1988 and Canadian Paralympic Team since 2007. It also recently concluded agreements to become the Official Airline of Swimming Canada and Athletics Canada ahead of Paris 2024.
Azul Brazilian Airlines (Azul)
Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro was the host city of the Summer Olympics in 2016, making it the first country in South America to be an Olympic venue.
Volleyball (indoors and beach volley), sailing and judo are Brazil’s top medal-winning sports in the Summer Olympics. The country is also the most decorated in football, the most popular sport in Brazil.
While Azul Brazilian Airlines is not Brazil’s flag carrier (that’s LATAM Airlines Brasil of LATAM Group), the low-cost carrier is the official airline for Team Brazil at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Azul’s Airbus five-year old A330-900, with registration PR-ANY, was spotted on June 24, 2024, almost a month before the 2024 Summer Olympics began, arriving and departing from Lisbon Airport (LIS).
The A330-900’s fuselage is emblazoned with the Brazilian flag and the word ‘Brasil’, along with the Portuguese phrase ‘Patrocinadora oficial do time que VOA’, which translates as, ‘Official sponsor of the team that flies’.
LATAM Chile
Chile is one of the 14 nations that participated in the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece.
Since then, Chile has won a total of 13 Olympic medals (two Gold, seven Silver and four Bronze), with tennis as its top medal-winning event.
On July 23, 2024, LATAM Airlines Chile presented its Airbus A321 aircraft with a special livery for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The nine-year old A321, with registration CC-BED was showcased at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL).
What makes LATAM Airlines Chile’s Olympic livery unique is that it features images of its noted athletes painted on the back section of the fuselage, near the tail.
The 10 Chilean athletes featured in the livery are:
- Francisca Crovetto (skeet shooter)
- Antonia Abraham (rowing)
- Arantxa Inostroza (fencing)
- Tomas Barrios (tennis)
- Diego Moya (triathlon)
- Camila Campos (Paralympian for powerlifting)
- Joseline Yevenes (Paralympian for table tennis)
- Jaime Aranguiz (Paralympian for badminton)
- Herman Moya (Paralympian for cycling)
- Constanza Fuentes (Paralympian for taekwondo)
Wizz Air – Hungary
Like Chile, Hungary was also one of the countries that participated in the inaugural Summer Olympics in Athens in 1896.
Hungary has since won a total of 521 Olympic medals. The country ranks third in Olympic teams based on total medals per million population.
Fencing is Hungary’s top medal-winning sport, but Team Hungary is also strong in the field of athletics.
For the 2024 Summer Olympics, media outlet The Hungarian Conservative forecasted that hammer throw, modern pentathlon, wrestling, taekwondo and canoeing are the events that should reap medals for Hungary.
Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air is the official airline for Team Hungary at the 2024 Summer Olympics. In the first week of July 2024, the carrier unveiled its Airbus A321 aircraft with an Olympic livery.
Half of the aircraft’s fuselage can be seen sporting the words ‘Team Hungary’, while the rest of the A321, with registration HA-LGI, is in the usual Wizz Air colors of white and pink.
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