Quantcast

Why United & Alaska painted their planes with special Star Wars themes

Airline CEO wants airports to cap passengers at 2 alcoholic drinks to limit on-board disruptions
Emirates Will Buy 5 Airbus A380s From Lessor For $200 Million
Delta Air Lines named official airline of the WNBA
Pair Of C-Suite Officials Depart Wheels Up
LAX Receives Final Cars for People Mover Train
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger clears Justice Department hurdle, now faces DOT
Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject new contract, union says there's 'more work to do'
Elliott Investment To Push For 10 New Boardroom Directors At Southwest Airlines
Alaska Air Backs JetZero Blended-Wing Design
AI in Aviation Line Maintenance: A Strategic Response to Delays, Satisfaction, and Staffing Challenges
Air taxi service plans for 2026 Los Angeles launch at USC, SoFi and LAX
VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap
Air Canada Blames Paris Olympics On Decreased Profits
Delta passengers sue airline over refund refusals after CrowdStrike meltdown
Microsoft fires back at Delta after massive outage, says airline declined ‘repeated’ offers for help
Korean Air Confirms A Spacious Lounge Is Coming To The New Terminal One at New York JFK
VAS Aero Services to Acquire an Additional 17 Airbus A320 Airframes, Bringing to 23 the Total Number of A320s Slated for Teardown and Harvested Parts Redistribution
Delta CEO says CrowdStrike-Microsoft outage cost the airline $500 million
Boeing Reports $16.9 Billion In Revenue For 2nd Quarter With 5,400 Commercial Aircraft Backlog
United Airlines says flight attendant in Terrell Davis incident is no longer employed and NFL legend’s ‘no fly’ ban is lifted | CNN
Nepal Plane Crash Kills 18 After Takeoff - Airline Ratings
Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating | CNN Business
CrowdStrike Outage Caused 10% Spike in Air Charter
Aircraft Engine Maintenance and Repair to Peak in 2026, Worsening Capacity Shortage for Commercial Aviation, Says Bain & Company
Joby’s Electric Air Taxi Makes European Debut
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation announces NLRB-scheduled vote to remove union officials
Families recount the horror of MH17 ten years on - Airline Ratings
777-9 Enters Certification Flight Testing - AVweb
Kompass Kapital Sets New Course with Airshare Investment
SATS, SIA Engineering Company and Changi Airport Group to Trial Autonomous Buses at Changi Airport
Why United & Alaska painted their planes with special Star Wars themes
Policy
Webp 5r3vc2svdh8ibaxk8gr8iutw0za2
Simple Flying | Simple Flying

Aviation companies often explore creative methods to connect with passengers beyond traditional services. Among these, special liveries serve as a unique marketing tool, transforming aircraft into cultural symbols and storytelling mediums. Recently, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines introduced Boeing 737-800 liveries inspired by the Star Wars franchise. These themed planes are more than just visual tributes; they represent strategic efforts to engage customers through popular culture.

United Airlines first launched its Star Wars-themed livery in 2019, coinciding with the release of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." The collaboration with Lucasfilm and Disney aimed to "... bring the magic of Star Wars to customers around the globe." The design featured imagery from both sides of the Force and extended to in-flight experiences like themed safety videos and merchandise.

Alaska Airlines followed in 2022 with a livery celebrating "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge," aligning itself with Disneyland Resort's attraction. The artwork included the Millennium Falcon and TIE Fighters, reinforcing Alaska Airlines' family-friendly image while strategically tapping into increased post-pandemic travel.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

These initiatives illustrate a broader trend where airlines use entertainment partnerships to forge emotional connections with passengers. By associating themselves with beloved franchises like Star Wars, airlines generate excitement and foster positive brand associations.

Special liveries also offer benefits such as increased brand visibility, passenger loyalty, ancillary revenue streams through themed merchandise, and substantial media coverage. As large mobile advertisements, these planes capture attention wherever they fly.

In an increasingly competitive aviation market, distinctive liveries help airlines stand out by engaging passengers on a cultural level. They promote destinations and events while showcasing commitment to broader cultural conversations. For instance, Qantas' Aboriginal art designs honor Australia's indigenous cultures.

The Star Wars collaborations by United and Alaska demonstrate how creative branding can enhance market presence and passenger loyalty. Special liveries prove that innovation knows no bounds in aviation, offering passengers memorable journeys infused with imagination.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Alaska Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its route network for 2026, with plans to introduce service to two new cities and launch 13 new or returning routes.

Oct 25, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce new in-flight menu options created by celebrity chef José Andrés starting November 4.

Oct 25, 2025

The Blue Sky partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue launched today, allowing members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem points across the two carriers.

Oct 25, 2025

Air Canada is set to expand its presence at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) by introducing four new nonstop routes to the United States in 2026.

Oct 25, 2025

United Airlines has announced it will add 10 new destinations from its Chicago O'Hare International Airport hub starting next year.

Oct 25, 2025

The partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue, known as Blue Sky, has officially launched.

Oct 25, 2025