Airbus Logo

Airbus LogoAirbus Logo PNG

The visual style of the Dutch airplane manufacturer embodies airiness and lightness. The Airbus logo features a widely spaced inscription with large gaps between the letters. At the same time, the bold glyphs indicate high strength and structural integrity.

Airbus: Brand overview

Created in 1970 to compete with such American aerospace giants as Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, Airbus emerged as a European consortium. Its founders were the French Aérospatiale and the German Deutsche Airbus, later renamed DaimlerChrysler Aerospace. The main office was opened near Toulouse, France.

Over the years, the consortium expanded its presence across Europe. In 1971, the Spanish company CASA joined with a 4% share, and in 1979, the British Hawker Siddeley with a 20% share. By the end of the 1970s, Airbus involved four European countries.

The first Airbus plane, the A300, took to the skies in 1972. The company released several models throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including the A310, A320, A330, and A340. By 1992, Airbus surpassed Boeing in the number of orders received.

In 2000, as a result of restructuring, the Airbus consortium was transformed into a single company, Airbus S.A.S. This new structure was 80% owned by the newly formed holding company EADS, which combined Aérospatiale-Matra, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, and CASA. The remaining 20% belonged to BAE Systems.

Airbus released models such as the A380, A350, A330neo, and the military transport aircraft A400M in the new millennium. In 2014, EADS underwent a rebranding, becoming Airbus Group, and in 2017, it transformed into Airbus SE, making Airbus S.A.S. a subsidiary of Airbus SE.

As of 2023, Airbus produces A320, A330, A350, and A380 aircraft families, making it one of the two largest airliner manufacturers in the world alongside Boeing. The company employs about 130,000 people.

Meaning and History

Airbus Logo History

The current aerospace company is the result of the merger of several industrial enterprises under the Airbus Industrie GIE consortium, which was established in 1970. Under its leadership, firms worked until 2000, when the new structure EADS NV (European Aeronautic Defense and Space) emerged. A year later, the consortium was reorganized into the Airbus SAS joint-stock company, and in 2006, EADS finally bought its shares and took over its management.

To be recognizable, the European company Aeronautic Defense and Space adopted the name Airbus Group, dividing it into two specialized divisions: NV and SE. They then followed the merger of the executive bodies of Airbus Group SE and Airbus SAS. Although the committees of the subsidiary and parent companies merged in 2017, they legally remained separate organizations. At the same time, the holding company received its current name and contemporary design.

Naturally, all these changes are reflected in their visual identity. The emblems of Airbus Industrie GIE and Airbus SAS received a common style – the symbol of a turbine, reminiscent of a jet engine in operation. They also use a uniform font, identical to Helvetica Black. From 2000 to 2010, the logos of two other firms involved in the initial merger dominated. For example, the four-pointed star was a legacy of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG, and the curved arrow was from Aérospatiale-Matra. Then, these elements were removed, and a more concise design was chosen.

What is Airbus?

It is an aircraft manufacturing company that produces airplanes under its own brand. It is part of the European corporation Airbus Group but is officially registered in France and has the status of “S.A.S.”

2001 – 2010

Airbus Logo 2001-2010

The dominant design features a circle divided into two equal halves. In each half is an abstract and dynamic pattern of curved lines, swirls, and flashes. Symbolically, the emblem can be interpreted as Earth (circle), with the airline as the fastest way to get from one place to another (dynamic curved lines).

The company’s name is set in bold, classic, plain font. The fact that the letters are italicized adds dynamism.

2010 – 2017

Airbus Logo 2010-2017

The curves now have a 3D effect due to adding a gradient to the background. The word “Airbus” is written in a new font. The inscription is no longer italicized and has several distinctive details, such as gaps in the letters “A” and “R.” Additionally, the letters have acquired a three-dimensional appearance due to the added gradient.

2017 – today

Airbus Logo 2017-present

The updated Airbus logo is flat and doesn’t contain the twisted logo, only the word mark. The rich, dark blue tone has remained virtually unchanged.

Airbus: Interesting Facts

Airbus is a big company that makes airplanes and space stuff. They started in 1970 to help European countries work together to make better planes. Here are some cool things about them:

  1. It started in Europe: Airbus was created to help European countries make planes together. Now, it’s known for making great planes and spacecraft.
  2. First Plane: The first Airbus plane flew in 1972. It was special because it had two engines and was big enough for lots of people to travel not too far away.
  3. Airbus Makes Different Things: Airbus doesn’t just make planes for people to travel in. They also make military planes, helicopters, space-like satellites, and Mars projects.
  4. Biggest Plane: The Airbus A380 is the biggest plane many people can travel together. It started flying in 2007, but it will soon stop being made because people want smaller planes that use less gas.
  5. Saving Fuel: Airbus works hard to make planes that don’t need as much gas, like the A350, made with special materials to make it lighter and use less fuel.
  6. Fancy Controls: In 1988, Airbus was the first to use a special system in its A320 plane that lets pilots fly with computers instead of just by hand. This helps save fuel and makes flying safer.
  7. All Over the World: Airbus has factories in many countries where it makes and assembles planes, which allows it to help people worldwide.
  8. Beluga Plane: They have a funny-looking plane called the Beluga that carries parts for other planes. The newer one, called the BelugaXL, even has a cute whale face painted.
  9. Caring for the Planet: Airbus wants to make flying better for the planet. They’re working on planes that don’t pollute, using things like hydrogen fuel.
  10. Into Space: Airbus also makes rockets and helps with space missions, like sending things to Mars and building space station parts.

Airbus is into making flying and space travel better and helping the planet simultaneously.

Font and Colors

Airbus Emblem

The inscription was set in italics in the earliest version of the logo. Straight font has been used since 2010. Initially, it was a grotesque from the Helvetica Neue family – modern, high-tech, with facets so that the carrier’s name conveyed the sensation of an airy structure. After the redesign, the corporate font B612 appeared. It was the result of creative work by a team of specialists, including Nicolas Chauveau, Jonathan Favre-Lamarine, and Thomas Paillot. Jean-Luc Vinot from ENAC also assisted.

Airbus Symbol

As for the color, blue has been and remains a priority for the company. According to the Ral gradation grid, it has the number 5013, and by other systems, it is the number 00205b or Pantone 281C. Previously, its light analog was used. The background is neutral white.

Airbus color codes

Dark SapphireHex color:#001b5b
RGB:0 27 91
CMYK:100 70 0 64
Pantone:PMS 2756 C

FAQ

What does the Airbus logo mean?

The current company logo contains only the inscription. Until 2017, it was complemented by a circular symbol with an abstract design consisting of curved lines. The ball can be interpreted as Earth, and the curved lines are airplane routes.

Who designed the Airbus logo?

The Airbus logo is the result of work by a whole team of designers. The modern version with the word mark is based on the previous graphic sign, where a circular emblem complemented the word. The creators retained the original bold sans-serif font.

Is Airbus a brand?

Airbus is a brand with its own corporate style, trademark, name, and set of other identity elements. It represents the products of an aircraft manufacturing company.

Where is the Airbus hub located?

Airbus is not an airline, so it does not have airports. The company’s headquarters is located in the French commune of Blagnac. The main production facilities are concentrated in Toulouse (southern France) and Hamburg (northern Germany).

Video