Alaska Airlines has just unveiled an epic new special livery, which has a pretty cool backstory as well.
In this post:
Alaska Airlines’ salmon livery Boeing 737
For years, Alaska Airlines had a Boeing 737 in a special salmon livery, which many of us referred to as the “Salmon Thirty Salmon” (get it?). Recently we learned that this plane would be repainted, which I was kind of bummed about, since I figured it would mark the end of this unique livery.
I was even lucky enough to see this plane taking off just ahead of us a few months back on an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Miami.
Well, the airline did indeed repaint this plane, but it’s not the end of the salmon theme. Rather, the same Boeing 737 has now been repainted with a new salmon-themed livery, which is so much cooler, and also so much more meaningful.
Specifically, you’ll find this livery on the 16-year-old Boeing 737-800 with the registration code N559AS (you can track the plane here). For those wondering how long this project took, the plane was in Amarillo (AMA) from April 26 through May 9, so the repainting happened during that period.
The significance of the salmon livery
Naively, I assumed that the salmon livery simply represented the Seattle-based carrier’s connection to the state of Alaska, and the amount of fish the airline transports, especially given the number of flights that Alaska operates to smaller fishing communities. I didn’t realize that Alaska Natives refer to themselves as “Salmon People,” and that’s what this new livery is intended to represent.
Specifically, the design was created by Native artist Crystal Worl of Juneau, and the plane has the special name Xáat Kwáani, which means “Salmon People.” It’s the first time ever that a domestic airline has named an airplane in an Alaska Native language, and has depicted the ancestral importance through Northwest Coast formline art.
Worl says that as a child growing up in Juneau, she was used to seeing Alaska planes take off, and she dreamed of one day having her artwork displayed on one of these planes. Here’s how she describes this dream now having become a reality:
“My heart is so full and warm. Every time I create something big or small, it’s the same feeling of just fulfilling this need and wanting to create something and share my story, to stimulate something that’s in me that feels connected. It feels good to say that I live in Juneau and fish and hunt here and eat off this land. My family’s been here for a long time, and I can say my ancestors are from here, and I’m eating the same food in the same place that they once were, and that’s really special to be able to share that and say that and feel that — and to create and retell their stories through my eyes. It’s powerful.”
You can read more about the backstory of the livery here.
Bottom line
As an avgeek I love special liveries, and this is easily one of my favorite ones ever. Not only is the livery eye-catching and gorgeous, but it also tells an important story, and honors tradition that’s important to the state of Alaska. I was initially sad when I learned that the previous salmon livery would be discontinued, but I’d say this is a big upgrade.
What do you make of Alaska Airlines’ new “Salmon People” livery?
Prefer the original paint job.
It's not for you.
It’s looks amazing! Love the salmon on the inside of the winglets.
A fantastic way to honour the people of the Pacific North West :-)
Well done Alaska - it looks great!
Congratulations to Alaska Airlines for once again showing they care. As Alaska frequent flyers, my wife and I enjoy their service and kind handling of our champion English Setter. In the fancy, no other airline compares to their pet care. Special liveries are a small way of saying "Thank You" to the people that use Alaska Airlines and to brighten the skies with unique and meanful art.
Marshall
Looks like the artist took cues from Boliviana de Aviación’s new livery. I think as art it looks like really good, but I’m not sure the design reminds me enough of “Alaskan salmon”. I guess they were trying to give it a Native Alaskan tribal aesthetic. I think I slightly prefer the older livery which was more straightforward.
Now serving in F a Smoked Salmon appetizer and a Teriyaki Salmon entree.
"It'Z JUST VuRtUE SiGGnaLLiNG!"
-Some Asshole Somewhere
It's really quite a beautiful design, and educational to boot. Thanks for posting this, Ben!
Hi that’s me! The design is beautiful and it’s a cool recognition of local culture and heritage. It all falls apart though when AS pats themselves on the back by stating it’s the “first ever domestic…” I actually laughed out loud when I got to that point.
At least they’re honest in that it’s all about performative narcissism and not actually about the natives. Maybe one day they’ll get it right, and until then...
Hi that’s me! The design is beautiful and it’s a cool recognition of local culture and heritage. It all falls apart though when AS pats themselves on the back by stating it’s the “first ever domestic…” I actually laughed out loud when I got to that point.
At least they’re honest in that it’s all about performative narcissism and not actually about the natives. Maybe one day they’ll get it right, and until then they can sit high above their conducting masturbatory empathy (what you called virtue signaling.
It's definitely a unique & interesting livery, but I prefer the "Salmon Thirty Salmon", as this one is too abstract/psychedelic IMO. The meaning behind it is nice though.
Reminds me of the days when JAL and ANA had Disney and Pokemon liveries respectively on their 747s back in the day. Unfortunately, EVAs Hello Kitty livery doesn't come close.