A new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 will bear the first livery of a U.S. airline fleet to have the name of the plane in an Alaska Native language. It will also be the first time Alaska Airlines has featured a language besides English on the main door of an aircraft.
This has been created as a tribute to Xáat Kwáani (Salmon People) depicting the ancestral importance of salmon through Northwest Coast formline art.
Alaska Airlines' newest aircraft paint theme – Xáat Kwáani – was designed by Alaska Native artist Crystal Kaakeeyáa Rose Demientieff Worl.
Xáat Kwáani means “Salmon People” in the Alaskan Tlingit language and refers to the spiritual link between the people who interact with the beloved salmon and all who benefit from their stewardship of the environment.
“Every time I looked at an Alaska plane, I couldn’t help but visualise the salmon being in formline, or having some sort of design that represents identity. I can’t help but look at things and see how to Indigenise them,” said Worl. “I have high hopes this project will encourage people to learn and embrace Indigenous culture and values.” Through her art, Worl aims to bring attention to Indigenous culture and to pass on ancestral values to a new generation.
Using Northwest Coast formline art, the salmon design by Worl is a one-of-a-kind work that honours salmon, culture, artistic expression, and language. Traditional formline art dates back thousands of years and is a two-dimensional design style of the Northwest Coast.
The aircraft will begin flying on 12th May with an inaugural flight from Anchorage through Southeast Alaska. First stop of Alaska Airlines flight 62 will be through Crystal’s hometown of Juneau, the state’s capital, before it continues through Sitka, Ketchikan and Seattle.
Xáat Kwáani (Salmon People) paint facts:
- It took 117 gallons (532 litres) of paint to complete the livery.
- Four main colours were used to create the livery: Midnight Blue, Atlas Blue, White and Pink.
- From landing to take-off, it took just 12 days to paint.
- The specially painted livery will fly for a number of years through a paint system that applies a protective clear coat over the base coats. This protective coating will keep the livery looking fresh for many years
- Watch a timelapse of the Alaska Airlines 737 being painted below.
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