Brussels Airlines’ next Belgian Icon will be dedicated to the Atomium

After decades of attracting visitors to Belgium, the Belgian iconic landmark will now also travel the world.

Brussels Airlines is delighted to announce its newest Belgian Icon: the next special livery to join the world-famous series will be dedicated to the Atomium, an iconic landmark in Brussels. It was chosen out of more than 900 submissions. The winner of the design contest is Thomas Faes, a Belgian architect who wanted to honor the emblem of Belgian architecture. The Atomium was built in 1958 to represent the best of Belgium to the world, which closely aligns with the airline’s ambitions.

The design dedicated to the Atomium, was submitted by Thomas Faes (44), an architect living in Orp-Jauche (Brabant-Wallon, Belgium).

“A few hours before the project submission deadline, I decided to completely rework my proposal. I wanted the design to be truly universal. For me, the Atomium is the symbol representing Belgium. I have childhood memories of it, when on a school trip, I found myself in awe at the foot of this iconic monument. The brightness and mirror effect of the spheres allow everyone to see something different in it. As an architect, I tried to translate what I perceived with the naked eye into a more technical drawing. I am so proud that my Atomium project will soon take to the skies as part of the Brussels Airlines fleet.”
​- Thomas Faes, designer of the next Belgian Icon

Brussels Airlines launched its quest for the next Belgian Icon in August, with an open contest. Over 900 designs were submitted. An internal jury selected 15 designs and opened a public vote. Over 50,000 people voted, and the top 5 was presented to an external jury, featuring Sandra Kim (Eurovision winner), Alex Callier (Hooverphonic), Philippe Geluck (Le Chat), Sandrine Corman (TV Host), Michèle George (paralympic athlete), Gabrielle Szwarcenberg (fashion designer), Elisia Poelman (painter), Griet Aesaert (designer), alongside Brussels Airlines CEO Dorothea von Boxberg and Michel Moriaux, Head of Marketing. The jury chose the winning design.

“It was a very interesting debate, and a tough decision to make. All the designs in the top 5 had great topics that would make great Belgian Icons. The Atomium was built for the World Expo in Belgium in 1958, and has been very popular to Belgians and tourists since. Bringing the ​ best of Belgium to the world is a mission we support at Brussels Airlines. The Atomium is already visible in our uniforms, and our logo with nine dots is a nod to this iconic landmark. Making the Atomium the next Belgian Icon therefore feels like an excellent choice.”
​- Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO, Brussels Airlines