Belgium national flag carrier Brussels Airlines has announced that it has renewed its partnership with Moulinsart until 2026. If you wonder who Moulinsart is, it is the Belgian company that has the copyrights of cartoonist Hergé, the creator of Tintin.

One of Belgium's most famous cultural exports, the adventures of Tintin and his dog Snowy was a cartoon serialized by leading Belgium French-language newspaper Le Soir. The cartoon was published during the German occupation of Belgium between February and September of 1943. The story tells how Tintin and his friend Captian Haddock set sail in a fishing trawler searching for pirate Red Rackham's treasure.

Rackman is based on Calico Jack

Red Rackham's character is believed to be based on Calico Jack, an English pirate who operated in the Bahamas and Cuba during the early 1700s. Calico Jack is also the pirate Disney used to portray as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Brussels Airlines came up with the idea to paint several of its aircraft in unique liveries back in 2015. An Airbus A320-200 with the registration number OO-SNB was selected as the canvas for the Tintin comic. Using the twelfth volume in the series Red, Rackham's Treasure (Le Trésor de Rackham le Rouge) as inspiration for the paint job.

Brussels Airlines Tintin
More illustrations have been added to the cabin. Photo: Brussels Airlines

Because of the aircraft's popularity with aviation enthusiasts and the public, Brussels Airlines and Moulinsart agreed to prolong their partnership and repaint Rackman adding additional Tintin illustrations throughout the cabin.

About Brussels Airlines

Founded in 2002, Brussels Airlines is 100% owned by Deutsche Lufthansa AG, and together with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss make up the Lufthansa Group network airlines. Regarded as being the national airline of Belgium, Brussels Airlines connects the heart of Europe to more than 70 destinations, of which 15 are in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for creating 40,000 direct and indirect jobs Brussels Airlines plays a vital role in Belgium's economy. From its hub at Brussels Airport (BRU) in 2019, pre-COVID-19 Brussels Airlines transported over 10 million passengers. According to aviation data and statistics website ch-aviation Brussels Airlines has a fleet of 45 aircraft which consists of the following planes:

  • 17 x Airbus A319-100s
  • 16 x Airbus A320-200s
  • 12 x Airbus A330-300s

Brussels Airlines is an ambassador for Belgium

Since the end of the Second World War, the city of Brussels has become an important center for international politics. It is now considered the de facto headquarters of the European Union and is home to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Brussels Airlines Tintin
OO-SNB is a 20-year-old Airbus A320-200. Photo: Brussels Airlines

Regarded as a gourmet paradise that produces some of the world's best chocolate and beers, Brussels has almost as many Michelin-starred restaurants as London and Paris. Brussels Airlines plays on its culinary strengths by allowing top Belgium chefs to create its food offerings. Brussels Airlines considers itself an ambassador for the country by bringing the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world.

Brussels Airlines is facing more strike action from pilots and cabin crew and needs the help of famous cartoon character Tin Tin. Photo: Brussels Airlines

Tintin is another timeless Belgium classic that we will never get tired of, so it is nice to see Brussels Airlines and Moulinsart continue the Rackman livery.

What do you think of the Rackman livery? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments.