Aviationtag turns Icelandair's Hekla Aurora into limited-edition collectibles

Aviationtag and Icelandair are releasing limited-edition tags made from the fuselage of Hekla Aurora, the Boeing 757 that became one of the airline's most recognizable aircraft. The collection preserves parts of the Northern Lights livery after the plane's retirement in 2025.

Why it matters: - The limited edition gives aviation fans a physical piece of Hekla Aurora, one of Icelandair's most iconic aircraft. - The release extends the life of the aircraft's distinctive Northern Lights livery after retirement. - The tags turn retired aircraft material into collectible memorabilia tied to a well-known transatlantic jet.

What happened: - Aviationtag is releasing a limited edition made from original fuselage material from Icelandair's Boeing 757 TF-FIU, known as Hekla Aurora. - Icelandair retired the aircraft in fall 2025 and marked its final flight with a scenic farewell over Iceland on Oct. 12, 2025. - The aircraft was later transferred to Lleida, Spain, where Aviationtag recovered sections of the skin in July 2026.

The details: - TF-FIU first flew in April 1994 and initially served Iberia and Air Europa before joining Icelandair Group in 2004. - In late 2014, artists in Norwich, England, painted the Northern Lights across the fuselage using airbrushing techniques and added an Icelandic winter landscape below. - The cabin featured a custom LED lighting system designed to recreate the aurora effect indoors. - Icelandair introduced Hekla Aurora in February 2015 with a flight from London to Reykjavík. - The aircraft later flew routes between Europe, Iceland and North America. - In October 2023, Hekla Aurora flew 126 Icelandic citizens home from the Middle East via Jordan. - Days later, the Boeing 757 covered a domestic Reykjavík-to-Akureyri route when a regional aircraft was unavailable. - Aviationtag says the recovered fuselage material was still preserving the original livery when the team removed it. - The company is handcrafting the recovered material into limited-edition tags at its Cologne workshop. - Pieces from different parts of the fuselage carry different color combinations from the original paint scheme. - The full colorful edition is available at aviationtag.com/icelandair.

Between the lines: - Aviationtag is leaning on the aircraft's cult status, not just its age, to make the collectible line more compelling. - Hekla Aurora's story blends aviation nostalgia with Icelandair branding, which makes the material especially valuable to enthusiasts. - The mix of retired aircraft skin and a recognizable livery gives the edition a built-in scarcity story.

What's next: - Aviationtag will continue producing the limited-edition pieces from the recovered fuselage material. - Collectors can buy the edition through the company's Icelandair landing page. - The remaining material from TF-FIU is likely to be consumed through the collectible run, giving the aircraft a second life in the memorabilia market.