Cost to re-paint an airliner (or fleet)

[swj737 0]

Hi all, Couldn't think of where else to post this question. Does anyone know about how much it costs to paint an airliner, or entire fleet? It sounds expensive and with bankruptcies, union bargaining and downsizing going on (US Air, Continental, United, etc), I would think re-paints would be low on the priorty list. I have seen re-paints of United, Delta, Northwest. Is it just that aircraft need re-painting periodically (as maint.) and they put the color schemes on then or is it someone in sales and marketing with a "great idea"? Just curious.ThanksSteve

[Guest]

The paint itself isn't that much, a few tens of thousands of dollars maybe.The real cost is in having an aircraft out of operation for several days, plus the manpower cost for the paintcrew (and maybe rental of facilities).In all, that can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.Multiply that by the fleetsize of a major airline which is hundreds of aircraft and you're suddenly talking 7 figure numbers and some real money.

[Guest AndrewMcGregor]

Aircraft periodically need repainting anyway, as the paint doesn't last all that long (five years or so on an airliner). So, when marketing have a great idea for a new scheme, they start putting it on the aircraft as they go for routine repaints. It doesn't change the operating cost except when the scheme makes the paint heavier or darkens the overall colour (dark paint attracts heat and increases the airconditioning cost while the plane is sitting at gates or at low altitudes in the summer).

[swj737 0]

Thanks for replies, it makes sense to apply a new scheme during maint. I just thought it odd to be spending money on indirect revenue generating programs when the industry (for the most part) is claiming poverty, but if it is rolled into an existing cost I can understand that. However using that model would mean that it would take quite awhile for the entire fleet to be painted, and it seems United and Delta have changed schemes more then once recently (last 5 years?), so do these fleets exist in more than 2 liveries?Thanks again and Happy Holidays!Steve

[Guest]

Delta currently has aircraft flying around in 3 liveries (or used to until very recently).United coincided the new livery with a largescale fleet renewal program so not only were masses of new aircraft delivered in the new livery directly from the factory, the aircraft in the old livery were often retired rather than having to wait for a C or D check and be repainted.