AOM French Airlines Logo PNG
AOM French Airlines: Brand overview
In the mid-1980s, Air France aimed to create a regional airline. They wanted to connect Paris with domestic routes across France and neighboring countries. This new airline, the company, was officially formed on August 28, 1988, with Air France holding 87.4% of the shares and Royal Air Maroc owning the remaining 12.6%. With an investment of about 180 million French Francs, around $30 million, the company set up headquarters at Orly Airport in Paris.
Two years were spent preparing for the flight. They assembled a fleet, trained personnel, and received all the necessary licenses. Their first flight was on February 11, 1990, from Paris to Bordeaux on an ATR 42-300 turboprop aircraft. Initially, they focused on domestic flights, connecting Paris with cities such as Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, and Nantes. Larger ATR 72s for longer routes and Boeing 737-300s for international routes were soon added.
Between 1993 and 1995, the company expanded rapidly internationally, launching flights to the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Morocco. By 1997, it peaked, operating 60 aircraft to 93 destinations. The late 1990s brought challenges such as intense competition, high fuel costs, and management problems. These problems led the airline to merge with Air Liberté in 2000, which lasted until March 2001. The last flight occurred from Paris to Bordeaux on March 25, 2001.
Meaning and History
1988 – 2001
The AOM French Airlines logo includes only the first three letters of the name. It is essentially a monogram in which the letter “A” merges with the letter “O,” which in turn merges with the diagonal of the letter “M.” The entire design is painted blue and is slightly tilted to give the impression of movement. A thick red line runs above it, resembling a jagged flag. The left side of the flag is smooth, symbolizing lightness and ease. The right part has sharper outlines but is slightly curved, reminding of the trajectory of an airplane taking off.
The monogram’s blue color symbolizes reliability and trustworthiness—important airline attributes. The red stripe adds contrast and signifies urgency and vigor. The unique combination of smooth and sharp edges reflects the balance between comfort and efficiency that airlines strive for. The overall slanted orientation emphasizes forward motion and progress.
