British Airways Logo PNG
Perfection and high standards are the main ideas conveyed by the British Airways emblem. The emblem evokes a sense of flight, smooth turns, and blue skies. The notes of speed and clear schedules create a sense of confidence in a successful journey.
British Airways: Brand overview
Meaning and History
British Airways is known not only for its quality service but also for its famous logo. The company had many versions that presented British Airways as a leader in the travel industry. After several changes, the brand name has taken on the UK national flag colors and the curved line of the Speedmarque.
What is British Airways?
It is the UK’s national carrier and one of the largest airline companies in Europe. It is part of International Airlines.
1974 – 1984
BEA and BOAC already had their own branding ideas, so the designers tried to combine them. Negus & Negus compromised and created a simple two-color emblem. It was a red and blue British Airways name divided into two lines.
Above the letter “i” in the word “airways,” there was no dot, which characterized the company not from the best side. There was also a lack of dynamism in the image, which should have supported the airline’s image. This poor image reflected the problems of the industry: inefficient management practices and, as a result, customer dissatisfaction.
1984 – 1997
The second version of the logo appeared in 1984. It was designed by the American firm Landor Associates, which caused a mixed reaction in British society due to the unspoken ban on cooperation with foreign design agencies. The name of the airline was written in one line and in capital dark gray letters. At the same time, the first “B” and “A” were slightly higher.
Below the inscription appeared a long red line curved in the shape of an arrow. It seemed to emphasize the pedantry and disdainful superiority of the British. The new logo was supposed to reflect BA’s corporate culture and confirm the company’s supremacy.
1997 – 2008
This logo is the result of a collaboration with Newell & Sorrell. Representatives of the design agency helped British Airways to get rid of its “stuffy” British image, which prevented the company from achieving international recognition in the eyes of its customers. The final version of the emblem was unveiled on June 10.
On the right was an elegant ribbon called the Speedmarque. It symbolized speed, movement, and innovation, which became the key values of the airline. This symbol was used on the fuselage of airplanes, company uniforms, boarding passes, and other places associated with the British Airways brand. The ribbon was divided into two colors:
- red – symbolizing strength, dynamism, and energy;
- and blue – reflecting quality, reliability, and professionalism.
The airline borrowed these colors from its predecessors – BOAC and BEA. To make the logo look bright and modern, the designers added a gradient. The inscription “BRITISH AIRWAYS” on the left side was also dark blue but without the transition of shades. It looked original, thanks to a floating serif font called Mylius.
2008 – today
In 1997, branding agency Newell & Sorrell developed a new corporate identity for British Airways because the old one was “too British.” Thus, the airline decided to show its globalization to emphasize international air travel. The internationalism of the nineties was embodied in a red and blue symbol, similar to a waving scarf. Below, aligned on the left edge, was the name of the company written in blue capital letters of equal size.
British Airways: Interesting Facts
British Airways (BA), the UK’s flagship airline, has made significant contributions to aviation history.
- How It Started: In 1974, British Airways was created by merging British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways, streamlining the UK’s air services.
- Innovative Comfort: BA was the first to offer fully flat beds in business class in 2000, setting a new comfort standard for air travel.
- Concorde Flights: BA and Air France flew the Concorde from 1976 to 2003, cutting transatlantic flight times in half.
- Global Reach: It flies to over 160 places worldwide, making it one of the biggest international airlines.
- Billion-Dollar Route: BA was the first to earn over $1 billion a year from the London to New York route.
- Eco-Friendly Goals: Committed to environmental sustainability, BA aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and invests in sustainable fuel.
- Tailfin Art Debate: In the late ’90s, BA’s move to replace its Union Flag tailfin design with global art sparked controversy. Later, BA returned to a traditional look.
- Wine Selection: BA buys more wine than any other airline and boasts the largest airborne commercial wine cellar.
- Royal Service: The airline has long served the British Royal Family and government, even offering a Royal Flight service for state visits.
- Tech Innovations: BA leads in using technology to improve travel, like electronic boarding passes and biometric data for faster airport processing.
- Record Flight: In February 2020, a BA flight from New York to London set a record for the fastest subsonic crossing, thanks to strong jet streams, in under 5 hours.
These points show British Airways as a leader in the airline industry, known for its service quality, commitment to the environment, and pushing aviation forward.
Font and Colors
The graphic element of the British Airways logo is known as the Speedmarque. This distinctive sign is associated with friendliness, flexibility, and speed, which cannot be said about the “rigid” arrow of 1984-1997. The predecessor of the red and blue ribbon is the Speedbird, a similar symbol of Imperial Airways, which became part of the British Overseas Airways Corporation. It was designed by They’re Lee-Elliott in 1932 and first appeared on the nose of the DH.91 Albatross wooden transport plane. The Speedbird was then inherited by BOAC (as an emblem) and British Airways (as the basis for the Speedmarque).
The logo uses a typeface created specifically for the airline. It is one of the modifications of Mylius Modern, a variant with tiny serifs and small bulges at the ends of the letters. It was chosen for its readability, clarity, and elegance.
The color scheme is in line with the company’s corporate palette. The combination of blue, white, and red symbolizes the exceptional British heritage of British Airways, as these colors resemble the national flag. Shades used: Signal Red P485 and Blue P286.
British Airways color codes
| Pigment Red | Hex color: | #ee1623 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 238 22 35 | |
| CMYK: | 0 91 85 7 | |
| Pantone: | PMS Bright Red C |
| Cobalt Blue | Hex color: | #0053a8 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 0 83 168 | |
| CMYK: | 100 51 0 34 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 2935 C |
FAQ
What is the British Airways logo?
The British Airways logo consists of the airline’s name in black lettering and a curved band of red and blue called Speedmark. It symbolizes safety, power, and speed.
When did British Airways change its logo?
In 1997, British Airways changed its logo, adopting a new color. Speedbird was replaced by Speedmarque.
What do British Airways do?
This airline is licensed to carry cargo, deliver mail, and carry passengers.
What is British Airways’ slogan?
British Airways chose the slogan “The World’s Favourite Airline” for marketing purposes.
