Brussels Airlines has lifted the curtain on its latest Belgian Icon, unveiling “Gravity,” a spectacular Tintin themed Airbus A320 that propels Belgium’s most famous comic character into deep space. Revealed on February 12, 2026, at Brussels Airport, the freshly painted aircraft transforms the familiar short haul jet into a cinematic tribute to Hergé’s Moon adventures, complete with weightless characters, a rocket streaking across the belly of the plane and an immersive cabin experience that follows passengers from takeoff to landing. With its first commercial flight to Milan Linate scheduled for February 13, this new special livery is already being hailed as one of the airline’s most ambitious artistic statements yet.
A New Star in the Belgian Icons Constellation
Gravity is the newest entry in Brussels Airlines’ celebrated Belgian Icons series, a collection of aircraft that wear full body artistic liveries celebrating national culture, design and creativity. For more than a decade, the program has turned the airline’s Airbus A320 fleet into moving murals, featuring themes from music festivals and national football to surrealist art and landmark architecture. With Gravity, Brussels Airlines returns to a beloved subject, revisiting the world of Tintin after the success of its first Tintin aircraft, Rackham, which debuted in 2015 with a shark submarine inspired design.
The aircraft chosen for this latest transformation is Airbus A320 OO SNJ, a workhorse of the carrier’s European network. Rather than a simple repaint, Brussels Airlines and its partners have treated the jet as a blank canvas, reimagining every curve of the fuselage as part of a dynamic narrative that stretches from nose to tail and even beneath the aircraft. In doing so, the airline reinforces its ambition to make flying more than a functional journey, positioning each Belgian Icon as an experience in its own right.
For Brussels Airlines, the Belgian Icons project is both a branding strategy and a cultural mission. By incorporating recognizable Belgian symbols into its fleet, the carrier brings a visible touch of home to airports all over Europe and beyond. The planes become talking points on the ramp and social media favorites, drawing the attention of aviation enthusiasts, casual travelers and Tintin fans alike. Gravity, with its instantly recognizable space theme, is poised to become one of the most photographed aircraft in the airline’s history.
Tintin Takes to Space Once Again
The creative spark behind Gravity comes directly from Hergé’s classic Moon adventures, which captured readers’ imaginations long before real astronauts set foot on the lunar surface. Working in close partnership with Tintinimaginatio, the company that manages Hergé’s legacy, Brussels Airlines explored several visual directions before settling on a space themed livery that would translate powerfully at full aircraft scale. The Moon and outer space emerged as the natural choice, evoking exploration, altitude and the dream of flight, all central to the romance of aviation.
On one side of the fuselage, Tintin is depicted drifting in weightlessness alongside the Moon itself, the young reporter’s signature quiff and determined expression instantly recognizable even from the terminal windows. On the other side, loyal dog Snowy and the irrepressible Captain Haddock share the spotlight, their presence anchoring the design in the familiar cast of characters that generations of readers have grown up with. By dividing the artwork across both sides of the aircraft, the designers achieve balance and clarity, avoiding visual overload while still offering a wealth of detail for spotters and passengers to discover.
The livery’s background, a carefully graduated sweep from midnight blue to black, intensifies the sensation of depth and cosmic vastness. Against this dark canvas, the figures of Tintin and his companions appear suspended in space, lending the aircraft a fluid, almost animated quality as it taxis and climbs into the sky. It is a subtle but effective visual trick that turns every movement of the plane into a continuation of the story.
The Showstopper: A Rocket Under the Fuselage
Perhaps the most talked about element of Gravity is not readily visible from a jet bridge window. Painted along the underside of the fuselage is Hergé’s iconic Moon rocket, its red and white checks instantly recognizable to anyone who has leafed through the Tintin albums. Positioned so that it is most visible during takeoff and landing, this belly artwork adds a playful dimension to the aircraft, giving the impression that the rocket itself is blasting off whenever the plane leaves the runway.
The decision to place such a key feature under the aircraft is a bold one. It acknowledges that the audience for this detail is not only passengers and airport staff, but also spotters, photographers and anyone who happens to see the jet from below as it climbs out from Brussels or approaches cities like Milan, Barcelona or Berlin. In an age when aviation imagery circulates instantly on social media, these dramatic angles help the aircraft stand out in a crowded visual landscape.
Technically, painting a detailed rocket onto the belly of an A320 is no small feat. The work was carried out by Airbourne Colors, a long time partner of Brussels Airlines that specializes in complex liveries. Layers of paint, carefully masked and applied over many hours, were required to ensure that the design would withstand the rigors of daily operations, from harsh weather to repeated washing cycles. The result is a rocket that remains crisp and vibrant even under the strong light and movement of airport environments.
An Immersive Cabin: From Overhead Bins to Carpet
The Tintin experience does not stop at the cabin door. Step inside Gravity and the lunar atmosphere continues throughout the interior, creating a sense that passengers are boarding not just a flight, but a chapter in an ongoing adventure. The overhead compartments have been transformed into a sequence of visual panels, reminiscent of a comic strip unfolding above the aisle. Passengers can follow the rocket’s journey from liftoff on Earth to a rendezvous with asteroids and the mysteries of deep space, turning an otherwise overlooked part of the cabin into a storybook in motion.
Adding an emotional and philosophical note to this journey is a handwritten quote from Hergé: “By believing in his dreams long enough, Man turns them into reality.” Running along the overhead elements, the line serves as both a tribute to the visionary spirit behind the Tintin series and a quiet encouragement to travelers looking out at the runway, contemplating their own departures and arrivals. It underlines the idea that air travel itself is a tangible realization of human dreams of flight and exploration.
The cabin’s visual narrative is reinforced through additional details. Figures of Tintin, Snowy and even the bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson appear on bulkheads, offering familiar faces at the front and rear of the cabin. The floor carpet, produced through digital printing by Swiss specialist Lantal Textiles, incorporates subtle references to outer space, such as constellations and abstract cosmic patterns that reward a closer look. Together, these elements create a cohesive interior design that feels curated and thoughtful, rather than simply branded.
From Rackham to Gravity: An Evolving Partnership
Gravity represents the second major Tintin aircraft in Brussels Airlines’ fleet, following the launch of Rackham over a decade ago. Rackham, with its black shark submarine motif drawn from “Red Rackham’s Treasure,” quickly became one of the most photographed and recognizable aircraft in Europe. It continues to fly as OO SNB and is expected to remain in service with its Tintin livery until 2027, ensuring that for at least the next year, two very different interpretations of Hergé’s universe will share the same skies under the Brussels Airlines banner.
The success of Rackham laid the foundation for a deeper collaboration between Brussels Airlines and Tintinimaginatio. What began in 2015 as a daring artistic experiment has matured into an ongoing partnership, one that extends beyond the exterior paint to include cabin storytelling, curated reading material and long term brand association. The creators and custodians of Tintin’s world have embraced the project as a way to keep the character fresh in the public imagination, in particular as the centenary of Tintin’s first appearance in 1929 approaches in 2029.
For Brussels Airlines, returning to Tintin with Gravity sends a clear signal about the enduring resonance of the character. In a roster of Belgian Icons that has also featured festival culture, modern architecture and national sport, Tintin stands out as a narrative figure with global reach. His stories have been translated into over one hundred languages and are read across generations, making him an ideal ambassador for a country that often punches above its weight in the realms of art, design and storytelling.
Showcasing Belgian Culture at 35,000 Feet
Gravity also strengthens the broader narrative that Brussels Airlines has been building with its Belgian Icons series: that an airline can function as a flying gallery of national culture. Previous special liveries have celebrated the Atomium, the Tomorrowland music festival, the Red Devils football team and the surrealist painter René Magritte, among others. Each design transforms a standard aircraft into a conversation piece, often prompting passengers to learn more about the subjects they see painted on the fuselage and interior walls.
By choosing subjects that are both distinctly Belgian and internationally recognizable, the airline effectively positions itself as a cultural envoy. Airport platforms in cities across Europe become unexpected exhibition spaces, with the brightly painted A320s taxiing past terminals and control towers that might never otherwise encounter Belgian art in such a direct way. For many travelers, a first glimpse of Tintin in space or the gleaming spheres of the Atomium will come not from a museum or book, but from a runway view as they wait for their own flight to depart.
This approach aligns neatly with Brussels Airlines’ role as the flag carrier for a country that prizes creative expression. Belgium’s comic tradition, in particular, is a point of pride, from classic titles like Tintin and The Smurfs to contemporary graphic novels. Painting Tintin on an aircraft is more than a marketing gesture. It is a declaration that comic art deserves a place among the great cultural exports of Europe, worthy of the same wide public exposure as music or architecture.
What Passengers Can Expect on Board
Passengers flying on Gravity can expect the same service standards as on any Brussels Airlines A320 flight, but with the added dimension of a themed environment that begins the moment the aircraft pulls up to the gate. Families with children are likely to be especially drawn to the livery, turning boarding into a small event as younger travelers point out Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock on the fuselage or search for familiar faces inside the cabin. For adults who grew up with the comics, the experience carries a nostalgic charge, linking the excitement of air travel with memories of reading adventures under the covers.
Brussels Airlines schedules its Belgian Icon aircraft across a mix of European routes, so spotting Gravity on the departure board will become something of a lucky draw for travelers flying within the network. The inaugural commercial flight from Brussels to Milan Linate on February 13 will mark the beginning of this aircraft’s public life, but from there it is expected to rotate throughout the airline’s short haul schedule, appearing on routes to Southern Europe, business capitals and popular city break destinations.
Within the cabin, the experience remains deliberately subtle in terms of functionality. Safety features, seating configurations and onboard services are consistent with the rest of the A320 fleet. The thematic elements, from artwork to quotations, are layered onto this familiar framework, adding personality without compromising comfort or efficiency. The message is clear: Gravity is first and foremost a reliable aircraft, and second a canvas for storytelling that passengers are invited to enjoy at their own pace.
A Glimpse of the Future for Aviation Design
Gravity arrives at a moment when airlines around the world are rethinking how their aircraft can communicate brand identity and cultural values. While special liveries are not new, the level of detail and narrative integration seen on Brussels Airlines’ Belgian Icons represent a more ambitious, story driven approach. By extending the theme into the cabin and coordinating exterior and interior elements, the carrier demonstrates how aviation design can be both functional and emotionally resonant.
Looking ahead, the success of projects like Gravity is likely to encourage further experimentation. As Brussels Airlines approaches key milestones such as the centenary of Tintin, there is ample room for new collaborations, refreshed liveries and expanded storytelling across its fleet. The airline has already shown a willingness to revisit and renew its icons, as seen with updates to Rackham and the introduction of Atomium themed aircraft. Gravity suggests that the sky is far from the limit when it comes to reimagining what a commercial jet can look and feel like.
For now, the sight of an Airbus A320 streaked in midnight blue, with Tintin and his companions floating between Earth and the Moon, offers travelers and aviation enthusiasts a reminder of why flight continues to inspire awe. It is not only the speed or the altitude that captivates, but the ability of an aircraft to carry culture, stories and dreams across borders. With Gravity, Brussels Airlines has given those dreams an unmistakably Belgian shape in the night sky.