The “Vibrant Greater Bay Area” livery demonstrates AkzoNobel’s expertise in delivering advanced, sustainable coatings that combine stunning aesthetics with long-term performance.
AkzoNobel
Aerospace Coatings has played a central role in bringing China Southern Airlines’ latest Airbus A350 design to life, marking the celebration of the 15th National Games of China and the spirit of the Greater Bay Area.
The new livery incorporates some of the region’s most iconic symbols, from the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge and the Games’ lively mascots to soaring seagulls and blossoming kapok flowers.
“With the sky as our canvas, we wanted this aircraft to reflect the colour, vibrance and spirit of the Greater Bay Area,” has commented the design team at China Southern Airlines.
AkzoNobel’s aerospace coatings specialists were tasked with translating this creative vision into a durable, high-performance finish. Their expertise ensured the aircraft’s design was not only vibrant but built to last under demanding operational conditions.
The complex livery required more than 50 bespoke colours, created exclusively by AkzoNobel to match the design blueprint with pinpoint accuracy. Beneath the vivid exterior lies AkzoNobel’s Aerobase BCCC, a cutting-edge basecoat/clearcoat system designed to reduce weight, minimise maintenance, and lower VOC emissions.
“We completed the colour development in just two weeks, ensuring the design could move from concept to fuselage with flawless precision. All colours were manufactured at AkzoNobel’s Dongguan facility, guaranteeing consistent quality and a smooth production schedule,” has stated Nicole Hu, MRO Sales Manager China, Aerospace Coatings Asia Pacific.
This special livery represents the latest milestone in AkzoNobel’s decades-long collaboration with China Southern Airlines, whose fleet of more than 650 aircraft benefits from the company’s coatings expertise every day. By combining striking design, durability, and sustainability, AkzoNobel continues to enable China Southern Airlines to inspire passengers while protecting their fleet for the long term.
“This system enables significant paint savings and lower VOC emissions, while still achieving stunning aesthetics and meeting the strictest aviation standards,” has added Nicole Hu.