White reflects sunlight, while dark colours absorb sunlight; so, white minimises the heat and any potential damage from solar radiation.
Reason 2: Safety.
Damages or leaks are easier to spot on white, so it adds to the safety of the plane.
Also, in the case of a crash or emergency landing, it is easier for rescue teams to spot the white aircraft.
Research published in the journal Human-Wildlife Interactions suggests that it is easier for birds to detect and avoid white colour.
So, white colour comparatively reduces the risk of birds flying into the planes, thus enhancing safety.
Reason 3: White is cheaper to buy & maintain and easier to sell.
Because of the reasons mentioned above, all planes start out white when they are made.
To add an additional layer of paint would mean extra money (estimated between $50,000 and $200,000 per plane) for that paint.
Also, an additional layer of paint would mean additional weight of about 500 kgs, which is equivalent to about 7 additional passengers.
More weight means more fuel is burnt and thus the efficiency of the plane is affected.
Historically, some planes have tried avoiding the white paint as well, but that leads to the tarnishing of the metal and thus adds to the cost of polishing & maintenance.
Dark colours are likely to fade with time and need touch-ups and repaint, thus adding to the airline’s maintenance costs.
Furthermore, airlines often end up selling their aircraft to other carriers and white planes are easier to sell.
