Summary

  • Mickey’s Toontown Express livery features Disney characters, with 400 hours of hand-painting involved.
  • West Coast Wonders livery honors orcas and environmental sustainability on the Pacific coast.
  • The Cougs and Dawgs livery supports Washington State University and the University of Washington football teams.

With a young fleet of Boeing 737s and Embraer 175s, Alaska Airlines is known for sporting some of the most outstanding liveries in the US. While most of its fleet features a blue Alaska logo on the sides and the Alaska Native on the tail, some are painted in special colors and logos to support communities, local sports, cinema productions, the environment, and other causes. Let us explore five unique Alaska Airlines liveries that have stood out from the crowd.

5

Mickey’s Toontown Express

Boeing 737 NG

Aircraft type

Boeing 737-800

Registration

N565AS

Age

17 years

Introduction

November 2023

On November 1, 2023, Alaska debuted the “Mickey’s Toontown Express” aircraft, described as a plane for fun and all. The colorful livery features playful images of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, together with their friends Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck, in Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland Park. This was Alaska’s eighth livery in collaboration with Disney.

The aircraft also features Chip ‘n’ Dale on the boarding doors and winglets, celebrating the reimagined “all tooned up” Mickey’s Toontown at Disney Resort. With a length of 129 ft 6 in (39.5 m), the Boeing 737 spent 400 hours and 20 days in the paint shop, as artists hand-painted it with bright colors from nose to tail.

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The aircraft operated its inaugural flight from Seattle to Orange County following a big reveal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The 737 will fly for the next several years before it reaches the end of its regular rotation. It currently flies to various destinations across the US, including Anchorage, Portland, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.

4

West Coast Wonders

Boeing 737 MAX

Aircraft type

Boeing 737 MAX 9

Registration

N932AK

Age

2 years

Introduction

January 2022 (new)

Like all special liveries, Alaska’s “West Coast Wonders” livery has a special meaning. The aircraft is inspired by the beautiful destinations served by the airline and encourages everyone to join in the efforts to protect the planet. The livery features a number of orcas swimming across the blue fuselage, which represents the ocean. The tail section features a beautifully captured orca leaping out of the water.

Blue Boeing jet with special Alaska Airlines livery featuring orcas on the body and tail flying over LAX airport

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Each year, orcas migrate between the Beja peninsula and Alaska, a path that many Alaska Airlines aircraft follow. The airline’s “West Coast Wonders” livery pays tribute to the shores it calls home and the natural life of the Pacific Ocean and West Coast waters.

The special livery also supports the carrier’s environmental sustainability goals set for 2025 and beyond. The 737 MAX flies to several destinations on the West and Pacific Ocean coast, including Los Angeles, San Fransisco, San Diego, Portland, and Seattle.

3

Cougs vs Dawgs

Two Embraer 175s

Last year, Alaska took its special liveries to a new level when it unveiled two brand-new Embraer 175s with fresh paint in honor of Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Washington (UW). The college-themed aircraft highlights the airline’s commitment to Washington state’s largest universities. Furthermore, Alaska expanded its support for WSU, becoming the official airline partner of WSU athletics. Both jets are flown by Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional sister carrier.

20230921_as_gocougs_n221qx_0421 - Go Cougs in Flight

Photo: Joe Nicholson | Alaska Airlines

The “Go Cougs” aircraft, in support of Washington State University, took to the skies on September 23, just in time for the fall semester with the football season in full swing. It operated its first flight from Seattle to Pullman ahead of WSU’s match against the Oregon State Beavers. The “Go Cougs” aircraft is the third WSU-themed aircraft to fly in Alaska’s fleet, although other models have been retired. It will fly for the airline with the special livery for the next ten years.

The “Go Dawgs” aircraft, in support of the University of Washington, operated its first flight on October 3, 2023, flying from Seattle to Portland. Alaska became the institution’s official airline partner in 2016 and has supported its Athletics and Medicine programs and other campus activities. Over 50% of its investment with the UW goes directly to student-athlete scholarships and welfare, further highlighting the airline’s commitment to education in the communities it serves.

Go Cougs

  • Aircraft: Embraer 175LR
  • Registration: N661QX

Go Dawgs

  • Aircraft: Embraer 175LR
  • Registration: N662QX

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2

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Boeing 737 NG

Aircraft type

Boeing 737-800

Registration

N538AS

Age

12 years

Introduction

May 2022

Several airlines have introduced Star Wars-themed planes over the years, but Alaska Airlines’ 737 is by far one of the most stunning. The special aircraft was unveiled on May the Fourth, 2022. Officially named “Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort,” it is painted space black and features the iconic Millennium Falcon, a ship once owned and flown by the legendary Han Solo.

Alaska Airlines Star Wars Livery

Photo: Alaska Airlines

The aircraft celebrated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the newest land of adventure inside Disneyland Park at the time. Following a big reveal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the 737 operated its first flight on Star Wars Day to John Wayne Airport in Orange County. With a length of 129 ft 6 in (39.5 m), the 737 required 228 gallons of paint applied during 540 work hours over 27 days.

Designed in collaboration with Alaska, Disneyland Resort, and Lucasfilm, 23 base colors were used, with numerous colors mixed onsite for the detailed airbrushing of the Millennium Falcon. The livery also features TIE fighters chasing the well-traveled spaceship. While the Alaska 737 can’t make the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs, it can be seen taking off and landing at various airports across the airline’s network.

1

UNCF ‘Our Commitment’ Livery

Boeing 737 NG

Aircraft type

Boeing 737-900ER

Registration

N492AS

Age

8 years

Introduction

April 2021

On April 26, 2021, Alaska Airlines, in collaboration with UNCF, unveiled a special livery called “Our Commitment” that symbolizes its support for education and equity. The Boeing 737, which still sports the unique livery, entered revenue service the following day with a flight from Seattle to Washington, DC. The aircraft will fly for up to ten years with the special livery, symbolizing the airline’s journey and collective commitment to education and advancing racial equity.

UNCF is an organization dedicated to enabling underrepresented students in their pursuit of becoming highly qualified college graduates. The livery was inspired and designed by Alaska’s black employees and allies and features profiles of the next generation of leaders. The 14 students featured on the aircraft; Jade, Elle, London, Shimone, Shilah, Micah, Arthur, Brandon, Cameron, Dominique, Alexis, Kaden, Kyra, and Jonathan, are family members and mentees of Alaska’s employees.

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The aircraft also features the following quotes on each side of the fuselage: “The time is always right to do what is right,” by American activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” by former South African President Nelson Mandela.

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