Something fishy in the air

© Alaska Airlines

Passengers boarding an Alaska Airlines flight might be forgiven for doing a double take when they realise the entire aircraft has been painted to look like a giant fish.

The reason? Alaska Airlines is celebrating the fact that it is the main carrier of Alaskan seafood to the rest of the US.

The airline has spared no expense to make this known. The fishy airplane gained its gills after a team of 30 painters worked round the clock for 24 days to add the detail onto what Alaska says is one of the world's most intricately painted commercial planes.

Gregg Saretsky, Alaska Airlines' executive vice president of marketing and planning, explained: "This airplane celebrates Alaska Airlines' unique relationship with the people and communities of Alaska and underscores our air transport commitment to the state's seafood industry."

Around half of the seafood caught throughout the US comes from Alaska, with 30 million pounds transported by Alaska Airlines to markets in North America and Mexico.

However, the salmon aircraft (of which, those with a fear of fish may be pleased to hear, only one has been made) is aimed not at the trade industry but at passengers themselves. Starting this week, it will fly normal passengers on many of Alaska Airline's routes across the US including to Chicago, the West Coast and Denver.

Alaska Airlines recently announced it would be serving authentic Alaskan beer on its flights. Whether another aircraft is to be disguised as a pint of Alaskan beer is not yet known.