Azores Airlines Logo PNG
The Azores Airlines logo is like a quiet promise. It tells us that the airline has undergone changes, learned a lot, and is still here, ready to connect the world to its unique islands. The color and name keep it fresh but also remind us that the airline is more than just flights; it is a piece of home for people far from the Azores.
Azores Airlines: Brand overview
Azores Airlines was established in 1941 at the initiative of the Portuguese government; the “Sociedade Açoreana de Estudos Aéreos” (Society for Aeronautical Research) was created in the Azores. After conducting research flights using military aircraft, the first scheduled air service was opened in the skies between the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, and Santa Maria in 1947, marking the official start of airline operations.
The mid-1980s saw a turning point in European aviation with industry deregulation. Taking advantage of this moment, SATA Internacional expanded beyond the Azores and mainland Portugal. Destinations such as Boston, Toronto, and Oakland appeared on the airline’s route map. Today, the airline has more than 20 destinations around the world.
An important chapter in the airline’s development began in 2015 with a comprehensive rebranding. Under the new name Azores Airlines and with a refreshed corporate identity, the airline introduced a modernized fleet that included fuel-efficient flagships such as the Airbus A320. This strategic move allowed the airline to enter a new era, providing passengers with better and more efficient flights.
Meaning and History
What is Azores Airlines?
Azores Airlines, formerly SATA Internacional, is a Portuguese airline based in Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the autonomous Azores archipelago.
Originating as a regional carrier, the airline has gradually grown to offer services beyond the Azores, connecting this beautiful archipelago to various international destinations. Despite the many changes that have taken place throughout the company’s history, one thing has remained constant: its unwavering commitment to providing a high level of service to its passengers. Today, this commitment has become an integral part of the Azores’ identity and a vital link for its inhabitants.
1998 – 2002
Azores Airlines, known as SATA Internacional from 1998 to 2002, actively used its logo to communicate its connection to the Azores Islands. The emblem featured the owner’s original name, emphasizing the airline’s historical ties and roots.
The logo design incorporated elements symbolizing the airline’s geographical location and main specialization. The blue trapezoids were intentionally shaped to resemble the contours of islands, effectively showing that the company serves island territories. The blue lines surrounding the company name’s letters resemble sea waves, adding dynamism to the logo and visually linking it with maritime themes, essential for airlines based in an archipelago.
The large size of the letters in the logo captures attention. It reflects SATA Internacional’s ambitions to expand its operations, strengthen its market position, and develop as a leading carrier in the region.
2002 – 2009
The emblem on the company’s logo illustrates a graceful bird’s wing crafted from multiple feathers arranged in two layers. This visual element enhances the logo and symbolizes flight, reflecting the airline’s primary activity. The feathers, skillfully depicted on the emblem, highlight the lightness and grace associated with the company’s aircraft.
The company name, displayed in large blue letters, occupies a central place on the logo, though its size has been slightly reduced compared to previous versions. Despite this change, the name maintains its visual impact and presence, continuing to be noticeable and striking. Adding the word “Internacional” in a light font resembles a breeze. This font lends an airy quality to the inscription. It emphasizes the company’s global orientation, symbolizing its light aircraft’s ability to cross borders and embark on long journeys.
2009 – 2016
The company’s logo features a metallic dove composed of numerous metal plates, symbolizing the strength and reliability of the new Airbus A320-200 airplanes. These aircraft are renowned for their outstanding performance and high-speed capabilities, resembling high-speed flying iron birds. Sunlight illuminates the dove, highlighting its blue color, which creates a shimmering effect, blending blue and dark shades in a dynamic light display.
The new font for the SATA inscription, bathed in sunlight, features smooth and modern lines that introduce elements of lightness and modernity to the logo design. This font enhances the logo and symbolizes the company’s dedication to innovation and continuous advancement in air transport.
As the company progresses toward its ambitious goals, this logo represents its determination to secure a leading position in the market.
2015 – 2017
As part of the updated strategic plan for restructuring, Azores Airlines adopted a new name and required a new logo design. This change reflects the airline’s desire to refresh its image and strengthen its connection to Portugal’s cultural heritage. The choice of green colors in the new logo emphasizes the brand’s affiliation with Portugal, highlighting the richness and variety of its natural scenery.
The central element of the logo, the dove, remains a key figure in the design, yet it has been redesigned to convey a new message. The dove is now depicted with its back to the viewer, spreading its wings and surging forward. This pose symbolizes forward movement and overcoming challenges, leaving all problems behind. This dynamic and optimistic image highlights Azores Airlines’ ambitions for a new phase in its development.
The logo design’s transition from dark to light shades enhances the sense of renewal and a fresh start. This gradient emphasizes growth and rebirth, visually representing the airline’s strategic direction toward updating and improving its services and operations.
2017 – 2020
Two years after its last rebranding, the company decided to change the color palette of its emblem, returning to the use of blue and light blue tones. This choice better reflects the brand’s core aspects and geographic connection. Blue and light blue shades, traditionally associated with the sky and sea, are ideal for an airline based in the Azores, an archipelago surrounded by the ocean.
2020 – today
The key element of the Azores Airlines logo is a bird, designed in a geometric style. It consists of nine figures: seven triangles, one trapezoid, and one complex pentagon. Together, these figures symbolize the islands of the Azores archipelago, which the airline connects. The bird, Açor, is conceptually a symbol of the Atlantic sky. It acts as a natural guide, carrying people across countries, thoughts, and dreams, and is always depicted on the tail section of the company’s airplanes. The bird is placed in front of the company name, which is written in two types of fonts – bold and thin.
The combination of bold and thin fonts in the company name conveys the versatility of the airline’s approach to air transportation. The bold font conveys strength and reliability, while the thin font conveys elegance and attention to detail. This typographic choice complements the geometric bird, enriching the logo’s storytelling capabilities.
