Loong Air Launches ‘Pop Mart City Theme Park’ Plane With Eye-Catching Livery
In a vibrant celebration of pop culture and travel, Loong Air has officially unveiled its “Pop Mart City Theme Park”-themed aircraft, a colourful collaboration with Chinese designer toy giant Pop Mart (泡泡玛特). The aircraft made its debut on 27 June 2023 and is already creating buzz across Chinese social media platforms like Weibo.
A First in China: Immersive IP-Themed Flight Experience
The initiative marks the first immersive IP-themed aircraft in China’s trendy toy industry, linking Pop Mart’s flagship City Theme Park in Beijing’s Chaoyang Park with the skies. The livery features popular Pop Mart characters in vibrant colours wrapped across the fuselage, turning an ordinary flight into a whimsical journey through imagination.
Loong Air and Pop Mart said the collaboration reflects their shared vision of “creating trends and spreading happiness”, aiming to bring joy not just to toy collectors, but also to families and fans of all ages during their travels.
Summer Campaign to Boost Travel and Brand Engagement
As part of this collaboration, Loong Air is encouraging passengers to “fly with fun” this summer, urging travellers to board the themed aircraft and plan trips to Pop Mart’s City Theme Park for a complete experience. The campaign is seen as a smart move to blend tourism with pop culture merchandising, engaging both aviation enthusiasts and lifestyle consumers.
Social media users have responded enthusiastically. Many are already requesting model replicas of the aircraft, with comments like “出模型 (release a model plane)” and “期待彩绘机模✈️ (looking forward to the painted aircraft model)” flooding the airline’s official Weibo account. Others praised the adorable design, and some even joked that the colourful livery reminded them of a regional AirAsia branch.
High-Impact Branding Meets Aviation
This collaboration also showcases how high-value branding opportunities are emerging in the airline sector. By turning commercial aircraft into flying billboards for trending IPs, companies like Pop Mart can amplify brand visibility while creating social media moments that travel far beyond the airport. It’s a strategy reminiscent of Hello Kitty-themed flights by EVA Air and Pokémon jets by All Nippon Airways.
For Loong Air, the partnership strengthens its image among younger travellers and families, positioning the carrier not just as a mode of transportation, but also as part of the entertainment experience itself.
Image Source: 浙江长龙航空