Today, at Airbus’ factory in Toulouse, a new milestone was unveiled in the development of the Swiss national airline, SWISS. The airline presented its first Airbus A350-900, debuting in a special edition that is sure to turn heads around the world. The aircraft, adorned in a unique and striking livery called “SWISS Wanderlust,” is not only a technical and aesthetic achievement but also an emotional tribute to Switzerland — the country it hails from — reflecting its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and landmarks in the skies.
This special livery is not a traditional aircraft paint job but the result of a meticulously crafted application of specialized decals that were designed, cut, and manually applied to the fuselage and engines. Airbus experts used advanced 3D software to project the design onto the aircraft’s surface, then divided it into around 360 custom-made decal segments covering a total of 380 square meters. Each of these parts was placed with millimeter-level precision, forming a complete visual mosaic featuring elements such as the Federal Parliament building, Freddie Mercury, the Swiss marmot, and many other symbols that represent all aspects of Swiss identity — from nature and architecture to people and tradition.
For this project, Airbus developed a special application technique that meets all safety, technical, and aerodynamic requirements, while also ensuring a high level of visual appeal and durability. This marks a global first — never before has an Airbus aircraft been covered to such an extent with decal art, positioning SWISS as a pioneer in combining aviation technology with visual artistry.
Although the aircraft is already prepared for its future missions, it will remain in Toulouse for a while longer before delivery, which is scheduled for late summer. During this period, final preparations will be completed, including engine testing, system checks, and initial flight trials to ensure full functionality and readiness for entry into service.
In addition to its impressive visual appeal, this special livery includes an interactive component. Visitors to swiss.com/treasurehunt can use augmented reality to explore the motifs on the aircraft’s fuselage, take part in a digital treasure hunt for hidden details, and solve puzzles. The grand prize is a trip for two in the new SWISS Business Class cabin aboard the Airbus A350.
This project once again highlights SWISS’s commitment to innovation and delivering a unique experience for passengers, both in the air and on the ground.
