Two new colors have emerged from the STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA project, with Pantone translating acclaimed Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama’s signature metallic aesthetic into bespoke aviation colors. Developed in a collaboration between STARLUX Airlines and global color authority Pantone, these colors serve as the defining element of the STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA aircraft, a three-year initiative that required solving technical problems never before confronted at this scale.

On the AIRSORAYAMA aircrafts, Sorayama’s iconic metallic “silver” and “gold” aesthetic are translated to precision-engineered shades designed for consistent reproduction. The result, visible at scale on STARLUX’s Airbus A350-1000, is a fluid, liquid-metal effect that shifts in depth and tone depending on viewing angle and lighting conditions, transforming the aircraft fuselage into a striking visual statement.

“This time we aren't just tuning color, we are tuning light.” said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Pantone Color Institute™. “Through specialized formulation, all visible shimmer particles were removed to achieve an almost liquid smoothness. They embody future luxury—not the ostentation of traditional gold and silver, but a quiet confidence: precise, elegant, and technologically refined. ”

The project united STARLUX, Airbus, and German premium coating specialist Mankiewicz around a fundamental challenge: Sorayama’s signature mirror-like metallic finishes could not be used on the Airbus A350-1000 due to aviation safety, structural, and lightning-protection requirements. A new technical solution needed to be developed.