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China Airlines' First Painted Aircraft: Jimmy Liao's "Hug Plane" Takes Flight

Published: 2026-09-24 👁 100 views
Last updated 2026-09-24 — In recent years, adorable aircraft livery designs and cabin themes have become a hot topic in travel, prompting many tourists to specifically seek out and plan trips just to experience these uniquely styled painted planes. China Airlines has now launched its Taiwan Cultural and Creative Series of painted aircraft, with the first installment — the "Hug Plane" — created in collaboration with renowned Taiwanese cultural and creative artist Jimmy Liao. His illustrated works have been brought to life on the fuselage of a B747-400 aircraft. With the concept of "A journey begins with a big hug," the design features endangered species leaping across the plane alongside innocent children embracing the Earth, showcasing care for the planet. This also allows Taiwan’s cultural and creative identity to shine on the international stage through China Airlines’ extensive flight network, taking the "Hug Plane" to the world.

 
Adorable aircraft livery designs and cabin themes have become a hot topic in travel in recent years, prompting many tourists to specifically seek out and plan trips just to experience these uniquely styled painted planes. China Airlines has now launched its Taiwan Cultural and Creative Series of painted aircraft, with the first installment — the "Hug Plane" — created in collaboration with renowned Taiwanese cultural and creative artist Jimmy Liao. His illustrated works have been brought to life on the fuselage of a B747-400 aircraft. With the concept of "A journey begins with a big hug," the design features endangered species leaping across the plane alongside innocent children embracing the Earth, showcasing care for the planet. This also allows Taiwan’s cultural and creative identity to shine on the international stage through China Airlines’ extensive flight network, taking the "Hug Plane" to the world.
 

China Airlines' Jimmy Liao-painted "Hug Plane" takes flight, showcasing Taiwan's cultural and creative soft power. (Photo provided by China Airlines)

The cabin of the Hug-themed aircraft is specially decorated with hug-style pillows, headrest covers, and Jimmy Liao’s artwork, creating a lively atmosphere. A fun Hug Plane animation is also played onboard, and flight attendants wear aprons featuring hugs between white dolphins and polar bears. First-flight passengers happily receive commemorative edition books of the Hug story, playing cards, T-shirts, and other souvenirs. Business class passengers are also given travel bags designed by Taiwanese emerging designers Lin Junxiong and Jiang Meng_c, promoted by Taipei as the City of Design. Taiwanese cultural and creative works can be seen throughout the cabin.
 
The "Hug Plane" centers around a cute "Earth Baby," with eight images surrounding both sides of the fuselage. It takes passengers on a journey starting with the endangered white dolphins off Taiwan’s eastern coast, swiftly flying past stars and the moon like an owl, exploring the world, and joining efforts to care for animals facing threats from climate warming — such as polar bears, penguins, and endangered rhinos. The journey ends with Taiwan’s unique green sea turtles in Penghu, spreading a message of commitment to environmental protection and positive energy for loving the Earth.
 
China Airlines specially selected the high-capacity Boeing B747-400 for the livery, which can accommodate 70 business class passengers and 319 in economy class. The aircraft will also feature related merchandise for sale, such as aprons and T-shirts themed around the Hug Plane. The painted Hug Plane will operate on routes to Europe, the United States, Japan, Southeast Asia, and mainland China, giving passengers the chance for a delightful encounter and an unexpected cultural and creative surprise during their flight.
 
 
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