Tintin’s plane lands in Barcelona and sparks a craze among fans and spotters

The iconic Tintin-decorated aircraft arrives at El Prat this week. Brussels Airlines' themed flights are generating anticipation among comic-book and aviation enthusiasts. Barcelona becomes a key stop for followers of the Belgian reporter.

Barcelona is experiencing an unusual visit at its airport these days: the Tintin-themed aircraft, recently launched by Brussels Airlines, has landed at El Prat and caused a stir among both comic-book fans and lovers of aviation photography. The arrival of this aircraft, decorated with emblematic scenes from Hergé's universe, makes the city one of the first regular destinations for this singular Airbus, arousing the curiosity of those seeking unique experiences in the Catalan capital.

The aircraft, named «Gravity», bears illustrations inspired by the albums «Destination Moon» and «Explorers on the Moon», two classics that blend science and suspense in the midst of the Cold War. Since its presentation in Belgium last February, the aircraft has travelled around half of Europe and now adds Barcelona to its itinerary, with two flights scheduled for this Sunday and an advance visit that surprised the most attentive observers on the previous Thursday.

The anticipation is not limited to passengers. The viewpoints near El Prat have seen an increase in spotters and Tintin followers, eager to capture the image of the aircraft as it lands. The fuselage, decorated with the Moon, the red-and-white rocket and Hergé's signature, does not go unnoticed. Inside, the details continue: personalised luggage compartments and nods to the comic's story, such as the dedication to Neil Armstrong and the presence of Hernández y Fernández alongside a lunar landscape.

The Catalan Tintin fan community, one of the most active in the world, celebrates Barcelona's leading role in this aircraft's debut. For many, it is a tribute to Hergé's work and a preview of the celebrations for Tintin's centenary, which will be commemorated in 2029. The airline expects «Gravity» to continue flying to the city in the coming months, sharing the spotlight with the veteran 'Rackham', another themed aircraft that will be retired in 2027.

The phenomenon is not new: since 2015, Brussels Airlines has been committed to aircraft decorated with Belgian icons, but Tintin's arrival in Barcelona has generated a wave of enthusiasm that is difficult to match. The combination of pop culture, nostalgia and a passion for aviation turns every landing into a small event for the city.

Tintin's relationship with aircraft goes far beyond this model. Throughout his adventures, the reporter has flown everything from Soviet biplanes to modern jets, reflecting Hergé's obsession with technical detail and precise documentation. The author himself considered setting an entire story in an airport, aware of the magnetism these spaces exert on the collective imagination. Today, that link materialises in Barcelona's sky, where fiction and reality meet at the edge of the runway.