Summary

• Some airlines, like Air Canada, New Pacific, and Hi Fly, have added dark black cockpit exterior outlines to their aircraft.
• The dark outline trend is functional in managing window temperature.
• Eurowings Discover and Airhub Aviation are examples of European airlines that adopted the dark cockpit outline on older Airbus models.

Some newer models of Airbus, such as the Airbus A350, A330neo, and select A321neos, feature a dark black cockpit outline on the interior, reminiscent of sunglasses. While the modern look makes these Airbus aircraft stand out, some airlines have taken it upon themselves to aesthetically enhance their Airbus and non-Airbus fleet with dark black cockpit exterior outlines.

Air Canada's entire fleet

In 2017, Air Canada began to introduce its latest livery. A little bit of a throwback to its 1990-early 2000 livery, the airline went back to white, red, and black with a few modern touches. The maple leaf roundel returned to the tail while the engines and the belly of the fuselage were painted black.

Of course, one of the most distinctive elements of the carrier's current livery is the thick black outline around the cockpit of each Air Canada aircraft. Implemented fleet-wide, this dark outline appears on every plane, from the small A220 to the Boeing 777 and 787. Older-generation Airbus jets and the newer Boeing 737 MAX have also received eye-mask treatment between these two size extremes.

However, Air Canada's cockpit outline has a unique style, remaining somewhat flat across the top. The bottom black edge bends upwards to meet the top line on either side.

New Pacific

This brand-new Alaska-based airline hoped to give its newly-acquired but older and 'pre-loved' aircraft a fresh look. The Boeing 757-200s that it has secured are around 29 years old, but the airline gave them a modern look with dark black 'shades.' Indeed, from some angles, the cockpit outline could be considered "A321neo-esque."

With the airline's aspirations to modernize its fleet when the time is right, perhaps the A321-like cockpit mask is 'wishful thinking'?

Hi Fly

There are a few examples on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. While no European example has painted Boeing jets with a dark cockpit outline, the three carriers we've identified have added the look to older Airbus aircraft.

In July 2021, Portuguese wet lease airline Hi Fly posted a video (embedded below) to YouTube showing off its latest aircraft, namely an Airbus A330. While the video's title clarifies that it's an Airbus A330-300, you might be forgiven for thinking it was an A330-900. Hi Fly gave this older widebody a new livery with a dark black outline around the cockpit. The airline also has an A340 with the same livery and outline.

Eurowings Discover

Germany's Eurowings Discover has also given its older aircraft a cockpit outline. This is present on the carrier's A320-200s and A330-300s, with the two examples being shown in the photos below.

The final example is an Airbus A340-300 used by Airhub Aviation. The carrier has two A340-300s and uses them as freighters to transport cargo.

What was the eye mask for in the first place?

In 2013, the Airbus A350 took its very first flight. Less than two years later, in early 2015, the type entered service with Qatar Airways. While this clean-sheet design by the European planemaker was exciting for many reasons, it was also among the first commercial aircraft types to feature a dark black outline around its cockpit. But what is this for exactly?

As we've explored in a previous article, the black masking on the new windshield has something to do with temperature management. Indeed, Airbus offered the following statement on this topic:

"The emblematic "sunglasses" like black windshield eases the window's maintenance and contributes to harmonizing the thermal condition of this temperature-sensitive window area."

So, while the dark outline is a functional part of newer Airbus jets, others have adopted it as a style and perhaps a way to give their older aircraft a fresh and modern appearance.

From a purely aesthetic point of view, what do you think of the dark outline around the cockpit? Does it look good to you? Let us know by leaving a comment.