As planes crisscross the globe, their exterior graphics not only represent the companies that operate them, but in many instances also serve as visual ambassadors for their respective homelands.
A great airline livery gives onlookers a taste of a carrier's values or its culture's ethos in an attractive and effective color scheme.
You mess with this at your own peril. Airlines like Southwest, Spirit, and American have recently updated their liveries, with mixed results.
Others have hit home runs. Here's a selection of 15 airline exterior designs that look simply amazing.