MUMBAI: Aircraft liveries were once about identity in its simplest form with logos, stripes, and national colours painted onto the fuselage. Over time, that surface has evolved into something far more expressive as vinyl technology made it comparatively easy to transform fuselage into moving canvases, carrying stories, art, and cultural narratives across continents. From commemorative liveries to full-fuselage artworks, the aircraft skin has quietly become one of aviation’s most visible storytelling tools, an evolution that Air India Express has tapped into with its latest art-wrapped aircraft, making it India’s first full-aircraft contemporary art wrap.On Thursday, the airline unveiled ‘The Flying Canvas’, a special art‐wrapped Boeing 737‐8 aeroplane (VT‐BWV). “The collaboration is a result of Air India Express’ multi-year partnership with the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, India’s first and largest international exhibition of contemporary art,” said AIX in a press statement. “Wrapped in an original artwork created by artist Osheen Siva, whose work reimagines heritage as a living, evolving force, ‘The Flying Canvas’ transforms into the fastest moving cultural installation. The art livery features a Tamil figure carrying memory and heritage into the future, adorned with traditional motifs that symbolise lineage, identity and continuity. As India’s first full‐aircraft contemporary art wrap, this initiative brings a bold new dimension to Air India Express’ long‐standing commitment to celebrating India’s culture across the Skies,” the airline said.Siddhartha Butalia, Chief Marketing Officer, Air India Express, said, “This initiative reflects how we see travel – not just as a journey between destinations, but as an opportunity to experience, interpret, and connect with culture and communities in meaningful ways.” Thomas Varghese, CEO of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, said, “The Kochi-Muziris Biennale has always been a celebration of art transcending boundaries, bringing contemporary practice out of galleries and into the everyday lives of people. As this aeroplane traverses over 60 destinations, it carries with it the soul of indigenous culture and the vibrancy of contemporary art to people far beyond our shores.” Aircraft wrapping itself has a fascinating lineage. One of the earliest widely noted examples of a special livery dates back to the 1960s and 70s, when airlines began commemorating milestones with painted designs, according to industry publications. In the early decades of aviation, liveries were painstakingly painted by hand, layer by layer, with strict weight considerations and long drying times grounding aircraft for days which also meant complex designs were expensive and difficult to execute. The shift began with advances in vinyl decals and adhesive films in the late 20th century. These allowed airlines to apply intricate, high-resolution graphics quickly and remove or replace them without damaging the aircraft’s surface. What once required weeks in a hangar could now be done in days. More importantly, it opened the door to experimentation, limited-edition designs, collaborations, and bold visual narratives.Airlines such as All Nippon Airways became pioneers, famously introducing Pokémon-themed aircraft that turned heads globally. Southwest Airlines used bold state-themed liveries, while Air New Zealand gained attention with its cinematic tie-ins, including aircraft wrapped in imagery from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. “In India, too, airlines have periodically experimented with special liveries, though mostly limited to tail art or branding variations rather than full-fuselage wraps,” said an airline official.What distinguishes full aircraft wrapping from traditional livery is both scale and intent. “While earlier designs were painted directly onto the fuselage, modern wraps use ultra-thin vinyl films engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, UV exposure, and aerodynamic stress. These films add minimal weight and can be removed without affecting the aircraft’s surface, making them ideal for temporary campaigns or artistic collaborations. Decals have also allowed photorealistic detail in the images which is something nearly impossible with paint alone,” the official added. During the previous edition of the Biennale, Air India Express unveiled a bespoke tail art on one of its Boeing aircraft. The airline’s refreshed brand identity in October 2023 marked the launch of the Tales of India initiative under which every new aircraft tail of its expanding fleet features a unique artistic design, inspired by indigenous craft, textiles and traditions, such as Kalamkari, Bandhani, Kanjivaram, and Banarasi.
