SWISS Unveils ‘Wanderlust’ Airbus A350 Livery in Microsoft Flight Simulator

Swiss International Air Lines has taken an innovative approach to unveiling its new special livery called ‘Wanderlust’ which will be featured on its first Airbus A350-900. Instead of using traditional renders or waiting for the aircraft to be painted and photographed in real life the airline has partnered with software developer iniBuilds to showcase the livery in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024.

This unique move allows aviation enthusiasts and flight simulation players to experience the new design before the aircraft is delivered. By choosing to reveal the livery digitally SWISS ensures full control over its presentation while engaging a wider audience through the popular flight simulation platform. The strategy also prevents potential leaks as new aircraft liveries are often photographed prematurely during production and shared on social media.

The Wanderlust livery is a tribute to Switzerland designed to celebrate the country’s rich culture landscapes and traditions. Created by Swiss artist Frédéric Siegel the livery includes illustrations representing different Swiss regions and cultural icons. Some of the featured elements include Zurich as the country’s financial center Wengen known for its ski slopes Montreux home to the famous Freddie Mercury statue and Basel which hosts the world-renowned Art Basel show. Additional motifs include an alpine marmot the iconic Wilhelm Tell apple shot Helvetia as the symbol of Switzerland and a treasure chest symbolizing a Swiss-wide treasure hunt game. Each element is carefully placed on the aircraft to tell a visual story of Switzerland’s diverse heritage.

The livery will be applied to SWISS’ first Airbus A350-900 registered as HB-IFA. The airline plans to acquire ten A350-900s through Lufthansa Group’s order to replace its aging Airbus A340-300 fleet and to increase long-haul capacity. A second A350 registered as HB-IFB is also in production and will feature the airline’s standard livery.

Aviation and flight simulation enthusiasts can explore the new livery virtually before the aircraft enters service. Those who own the iniBuilds Airbus A350-900 add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator can download both the special HB-IFA livery and the standard HB-IFB livery for free via the iniManager app. SWISS has also created an augmented reality experience through its treasure hunt website allowing users to take a closer look at the aircraft’s design in an interactive way.

By launching its new livery in Microsoft Flight Simulator SWISS is embracing a modern and innovative method of engaging with the aviation community. With over fifteen million copies of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 sold the airline is tapping into a large audience of aviation fans who can virtually experience the aircraft before it takes flight in real life. This approach is not only a smart marketing move but also a potential new industry trend where airlines might use digital platforms to reveal new liveries in a controlled and engaging manner.

As SWISS prepares to take delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 later in 2025 flight simulation users can already take it for a test flight and explore the details of the Wanderlust design. This initiative showcases how aviation technology and digital engagement can merge to create an exciting experience for both aviation fans and future passengers.