India, April 19 -- If you scan the airfield while waiting for your next flight, you'll probably notice something similar between many of the planes: Most are painted white. Though every airline has a unique livery (that is, the branding on the aircraft's exterior comprising a distinct collection of colours and graphics), most fuselages are painted white, and for good reason.

"Most airplanes are painted white because the colour reflects the sunlight, keeping the planes cooler and minimising heat damage," former pilot Dan Bubb, now a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, tells Travel + Leisure.

Think about how hot a parked car gets when it's sitting in the sun - the same concept applies to planes. And as anyone who lives in a ...