Why Are Almost All Airplanes White?

Why are most airliners white? White paint reflects sunlight, so a parked jet heats up less — which matters for composite parts like the nose cone and control surfaces. Bright colors also fade in the sun over the years, while white barely shows it. And because airplanes often change owners, a white base can take a new airline's colors quickly, without stripping off a dark paint scheme first. So white isn't boring: it's cooler, lasts longer, and repaints easier.

Sources:
– MIT's R. John Hansman on why planes are white (via Gulf News):
– Marie Claire UK, the science of white planes:
– Aircraft lease paint clauses:
– Simple Flying, why most aircraft are painted white: