American has probably got the most iconic livery of all airlines in service today*.
The naked aluminium skin of its planes – partially covered only with red, white and blue stripes and a 44-year-old tail logo – stands in contrast to those of every other modern day airline.
That minimalist design, combined with the sheer volume of aircraft and routes American flies, have culminated in one seriously recognisable brand.
So why now, after all these years, is American deciding to change its logo and paint its planes?
American didn’t leave their planes unpainted just because they were fond of the shiny, unfettered metal look. The amount of paint it takes to cover an entire aircraft adds up to several hundred pounds of weight. It costs money (in fuel) to fly that weight around the world.
Well, it’s partially down to the company wanting to update its brand in line with the roll-out of service upgrades. But mainly, evolution in aircraft design has forced them to.
Some of the 550 aircraft they have on order with Boeing (Dreamliner included) and Airbus are built in composite materials (carbon fibre). Unlike aluminium, these materials require painting.
As you can see from the feature image (supplied by American Airlines), the company is trying to retain its iconic alloy image by using grey paint.
Sadly, it lacks that pop of the old polished aluminium.
American Airlines reveals its new look with a new logo and new aircraft livery:
* We say in service today, because Pan Am’s got a fair claim to the all time most iconic airline brand thanks to the eponymously titled TV show, Leonardo di Caprio’s adventures in the semi-biographical tale Catch Me If You Can, and the famous Pan Am Building in Midtown Manhattan, New York.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
