Tintin livery for Brussels Airlines

Tintin is the new livery of the A320 aircraft from Brussels Airlines. Photo: Airbus

A320 is painted in a livery showing Tintin and his beloved dog Snowy riding in a submarine.

Brussels Airlines have taken a new tack for their latest Airbus A320.

The aircraft is painted in a livery showing Tintin, the most famous creation of Belgian artist Hergá.

The A320 is now being renamed Rackham after the book Red Rackham's Treasure from which the artwork is taken.

The unique livery represents a great black shark, based on the shark shaped submarine invented by popular character Professeur Tournesol along with character Tintin and his beloved dog Snowy riding in the submarine.

The cabin is a fairly standard Airbus interior, however it does feature artwork with Tintin and his friend Captain Haddock.

Alas, there will be only one of these aircraft, and it will only remain on the aircraft for four years. The livery will appear on a single aircraft which flies on many scheduled services including London Heathrow, Paris, Geneva, Rome and Barcelona.

The special livery inspired by the Tintin comic book was unveiled today at Toulouse-Blagnac airport. The livery was unveiled at the airlines' Brussels Airport home base in Belgium. The aircraft is named "Rackham" after one of Tintin's most popular adventures.

The painting was carried out by aircraft paint artist Andre Eisele in the Czech Republic and took 1,500 man hours.

The Tintin livery was developed with Moulinsart, who are custodians of Herge's oeuvre, the famous Belgian comic book artist who created Tintin.

Brussels Airlines operates a fleet including 24 A320 type aeroplanes, including 17 A319 types.