Airline Tail Art: the masterpieces in our skies!

Aircraft tails have a variety of functions, and they’re not all aerodynamic! As well as stabilising the aircraft and providing the yaw to turn, aircraft tails are an opportunity for an airline to promote itself, and for a nation to exhibit their culture on the world stage.

Some of these are simple, some of them are intricate, but all of them tell a story of the airline, or the country where it originates.

Here, in a new series on UrbanDuniya, I’ll be bringing you a selection of some of the most interesting, beautiful and impressive examples of airline tail art from around the world!

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  Mihin Lanka's traditional lotus rising from the blue

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  The traditional Indian candelabra "diya" adorns the tail of Air India Express

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  China Southern Airlines' traditional kapok flower on the tail fin

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  Temples, orchids and Thai silk are said to be the inspiration between Thai Airways International's logo

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  A ceremonial lion is Indonesia's Lion Air logo

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  The symbolic southern cross constellation for V Australia's logo (now rebranded to Virgin Australia)

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  A stylised golden lotus on Vietnam Airlines' tail

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  A stylised "taegeuk" on the Korean Airlines tail reflects Korean Taoist values

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  Dolphins leap from the tail of a Maldivian Airlines plane

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  Taiwan's "national flower", the plum blossom, on the tail of Taipei-based China Airlines

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  The "Pualani" Hawaiian girl on Hawaiian Airlines livery

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  Air New Zealand's old tail art, with the stylised koru (curled fern) on a Pacific blue background

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  An Arabic mosaic on the tail of Etihad, the UAE's national carrier

Don’t forget to subscribe – there’s more to come next time!

Which is your favourite? Comment below!