Due to a number of requests for a livery-evolution video, we’ve decided to give it a go, starting
with British Airways.
First off - a special thanks to Richard Stretton of Yesterday’s Airlines for providing us
with some valuable information and imagery. The link to his website is in the description.
As you may have already known, British Airways was formed through the merger of BOAC, BEA,
NEA, and Cambrian. For quite a few years after the official merger, many of the aircraft
kept their old colors and applied British Airways title.
Then in 1974, the fleet was given a fresh look designed by firm Negus and Negus. British
Airways describes it as “a modern and fresh design was based on the British national colours
of red, white and blue. It featured a streamlined evolution of the BOAC and BEA insignia by
way of a quartered Union Flag with a red tip on the tailfin and the Speedbird symbol on
the nose.”
At the beginning of the 1980s BA dropped the “airways” from its livery in favour of
just the word “British” enlarged.
An interesting fact is that the Concorde always wore a modified Negus, and later Landor scheme,
which excluded a dark blue belly. This was to avoid heat issues at high speed.
In late 1984 BA experimented with a silver topped version of the Negus scheme on a 737-200.
Designed by the famous design house Landor Associates, an updated scheme was unveiled
in December 1984. It was quite similar to the Negus scheme but the white roof was replaced
with 'Pearl Grey' and the belly replaced with 'Midnight Blue'. The speedbird was replaced
with a 'Brilliant Red' speedwing running along the lower fuselage. The title font was also
changed and capitalised.
On the tail, the quartered Union Flag was carried over from the previous ‘Negus’
livery and its very own Coat of Arms was placed over the midnight blue as a ‘touch of class’.
Then, in 1996, some of the BA fleet began appearing with an odd lowered lighter blue
belly without the speedwing. While the tail remained in the Landor scheme, the changes
seemed to indicate that BA was preparing for a new livery and was unwilling to repaint
aircraft into the old Landor scheme. This “interim” design appeared on several 737s,
747s, 767s and A320s.
In 1997 British Airways unveiled its new World Images livery, designed to completely replace
the Landor livery across the airline. Given the name Project Utopia, the livery intended
to ‘reflect the best of British values blended with the nation’s more modern attributes.
The airline described it as “friendly, youthful, diverse and cosmopolitan, open to many cultures”.
At the heart of the livery change were 50 images representing examples of ethnic art
from across the world. As for the fuselage, the 'Pearl Grey' upper
was replaced with a bright white and the blue belly was lowered and lightened. A new 'Speedmarque'
logo was added on the upper fuselage and the titles moved under the windowline.
One of the 1997 Project Utopia tails, known also as 'Chatham Dockyard' was initially applied
only to the Concorde. However, it became the standard BA tail livery after phasing out
all other Utopia tails.
The design was based upon a stylised Union flag as flown by English naval commander Lord
Nelson who’s fleet was based at the historic Chatham Royal Dockyard. This remains as the
airline’s most current livery.
From 2000 to 2011, the tail flag was enlarged and raised higher on the tail. The title ‘United
Kingdom’ was removed from the rear of the fuselage.
In 2011, a new 'To Fly To Serve' crest was added next to titles and this design has remained
ever since.
In 2012, British Airways repainted nine A319s with a dove design to mark the London 2012
Olympics. Additionally, British Airways created a special yellow, orange and gold livery for
the aircraft that transported the Olympic Flame from Athens to London – named The
Firefly.
It should also be noted that the airline also has a special OneWorld design for some of
its 747-400s.
In early 2019 BA unveiled four special retro liveries to mark its centenary. The four designs
were BOAC, BEA, Negus, and Landor. While the BEA design was painted on an Airbus A319,
the other three designs were applied to Boeing 747-400s.
What’s your favorite BA livery? And if we do this type of video again, what airline
would you like to see next? Let us know in the comments!