Brussels Airlines has announced the latest Belgian icon to appear as a special livery on one of its aircraft.
This livery is dedicated to the Atomium, one of Brussels' most iconic landmarks, and was chosen from over 900 designs submitted as part of an open competition. The design was created by Thomas Faes, an architect from Brabant-Walloon, who wanted to use his creative concept to honour not only the Atomium itself but also Belgian identity.
The design and its meaning
Thomas Faes, 44 years old, decided at the last minute to completely revise his proposal. His goal was to create a design that was universal and representative of Belgium. In his own words, he describes the Atomium as a symbol of his childhood and emphasizes the unique visual effect of the spherical structures of the building. Originally built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, this structure represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times and represents both scientific progress and Belgian engineering.
Brussels Airlines launched a competition in August to find the next "Belgian Icon". After a shortlist by an internal jury and a subsequent public vote in which more than 50.000 votes were cast, Faes' design was chosen as the winner. The jury, made up of prominent figures from culture and sport, praised the diversity and creativity of the submitted designs and the Atomium was ultimately chosen as the perfect choice for the next special livery.
cooperation and future steps
Following the selection of the design, Brussels Airlines will now work with Thomas Faes to translate his vision into a technical drawing that will be applied to the aircraft. The result of this collaboration will be presented to the public in spring 2025. Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Brussels Airlines, highlights that the Atomium is not only present on the employees' uniforms, but has also already been integrated into the design of the company logo. This shows the airline's deep-rooted connection to Belgian culture.
The Atomium: A Landmark with History
The Atomium is not only an impressive structure, but also one of Belgium's most popular tourist attractions, with more than 800.000 visitors annually. It was originally built to showcase Belgian engineering and creativity during the World's Fair. Today, it not only attracts tourists, but also offers a rich cultural program and events that keep the public interested.
With the new special livery dedicated to the Atomium, Brussels Airlines is making a strong statement about the link between aviation and Belgian identity. This initiative not only promotes awareness of Belgian culture abroad, but also strengthens Belgium's tourism image. The combination of innovative design and historical significance makes this project an excellent representation of the best that Belgium has to offer.
Brussels Airlines has previously paid tribute to other Belgian icons, including characters such as Tintin and works by artists such as René Magritte and Pieter Bruegel, which illustrate the country's cultural diversity. The airline is committed to making Belgium visible worldwide while enriching the flight experience for its passengers.
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