Continental Airlines Logo PNG
The Continental Airlines logo is a sign and symbol of air travel and adventure. Lightness, freedom, beauty, and openness of the world, this is what this emblem represents.
The light blue color of the Continental Airlines lettering evokes the sky and the world of air travel. The square on the right side of the logo reflects stability, reliability, and trust, which are one of the brand’s main values. The voluminous globe inside the square symbolizes international flights and endless opportunities for travelers worldwide. The white-blue color of the ball complements the logo’s overall color scheme, embodying harmony and peace.
The Continental Airlines emblem reflects professionalism, stability, and safety in air travel, while also calling for adventure and exploration, allowing travelers to discover new horizons and experience the world.
Continental Airlines began in 1934 as Varney Speed Lines, founded by American aviation pioneer Walter Varney. The company first carried mail between El Paso, Texas, and Pueblo, Colorado, at a time when mail contracts supported many early airlines. In 1937, Texas entrepreneur Robert Six bought 40 percent of the company, shifted its focus toward passenger service, and renamed it Continental Airlines.
During World War II, Continental provided aircraft and crews for military transport. In 1953, it acquired Pioneer Airlines, expanding across Texas and nearby states. In 1955, it introduced the Vickers Viscount, and in 1958, entered the transcontinental market with Chicago-Los Angeles service. The Boeing 707 followed in 1959, supporting faster flights and early international routes to Mexico and Hawaii.
In the 1970s, Continental expanded to Australia and New Zealand. By 1973, it operated an all-jet fleet. After U.S. airline deregulation in 1978, it added routes more aggressively. The 1980s brought a strike, an 1983 bankruptcy, and restructuring under Frank Lorenzo, before the airline exited bankruptcy in 1987 and added routes to Europe and Asia.
In 1992, Continental signed a codeshare deal with SAS and became a founding member of SkyTeam in 1998. After the September 11 attacks, it continued fleet and service updates. In 2009, it left SkyTeam and joined Star Alliance. In 2010, Continental announced its merger with United Airlines, which became part of United Continental Holdings on October 1, 2010, and completed integration under the United brand on March 3, 2012.
Meaning and History
The company changed its name several times, expanded its air fleet, and added new flight directions, which led to rebranding. The basis of all images is the form of a circle pointing to Earth. Dreams of intercontinental flights never left the owners of Continental Airlines. This desire could only be realized 50 years after its establishment. The second constant symbol of the company is the eagle. The bird connected the carrier to the country of its foundation and was removed only after a change in ownership, involving European and Canadian investors.
What is Continental Airlines?
An American airline that, as of 2012, operated about 3,000 flights per day and was the second-largest carrier in America. Its revenue amounted to about 15 billion dollars. The company’s logistics included three major hubs in Houston, Newark, and Cleveland.
1934 – 1937
The first emblem is circular, reminiscent of a seal stamped on luggage and mail shipments. Its red color hinted at sealing wax. The choice relates to the company’s business, founded as Airmail.
On the outer side of the seal, the carrier’s name, Varney Speed Lines, is arranged in a circle. The company name is taken from its founder and first owner, Walter T. Varney, who originated transportation in the USA.
In the center of the emblem is an airplane, the prototype of the Lockheed Vega, the first ship on which mail was delivered. It accommodated four passengers and a pilot. It was distinguished by its strength, range, and the highest speed at the time. That’s why the ambitious note “the fastest carrier in the world” is added at the bottom of the emblem.
The owner’s surname, Varney, is written on the liner’s wing.
1937 – 1960
The government canceled the air mail contracts. Robert Six acquired the financially struggling carrier in 1936 and changed the name to Continental Airlines a year later. The renaming prompted the introduction of a new logo.
The circular shape was maintained in the background. It’s formed by three lines: red, black, and a thin black one that borders the whole composition. The figure depicts the globe, reflecting the carrier’s ambition to offer intercontinental flights.
In the foreground, there’s a schematic image of an eagle with outstretched wings. The bird symbolizes America and, at the same time, represents flight. Therefore, it’s a perfect symbol for an airline. The wings of the eagle are schematically drawn and resemble two airplane keels.
The use of red at the bottom and in the line of the inner circle hints at the initial company, Varney Speed Lines, which formed the basis for the new enterprise. The color emphasizes the main feature that Continental Airlines plans to maintain speed.
The black part demonstrates the new carrier’s globality, confidence, and reliability.
Inside the eagle is the name “Continental Airlines,” indicating flights within the continent. The main destinations were El Paso, Denver, and Oklahoma City.
1960 – 1967
In 1960, the company changed its fleet of airplanes and began non-stop flights. Up to that point, during the flight, the airliner would land in small towns along the route.
This new step in development was reflected in an update to the visual identity. The logo predominantly featured gold to emphasize the convenience and exclusivity of the new flights. The carrier’s airplanes also received “golden” tails.
The circular shape transformed into an oval. The symbol still represented the globe. Inside the shape is an image of an eagle, considerably smaller because there was only one airplane for non-stop flights in the fleet at that time, and only five were planned.
The figure of the bird is divided into two parts by the inscription Continental. Considering the eagle represents America, this design shows flights within the country. At the top of the image, the name is repeated in large letters, conveying the company’s scale and confidence in the future.
1967 – 1991
Over seven years, the miles covered increased by 61%, indicating significant growth. Continental Airlines approached the final abandonment of piston and turboprop airplanes and switched to the jet Boeing 727. This allowed for expanded flight directions and improved service quality.
The progress was captured in a new emblem developed by designer Saul Bass.
The red circle in the center hinted at the once high-speed flights of Varney Speed Lines. The color emphasized the minimal time spent on the flight. The shape depicted the Earth. White lines, tracing the circle’s surface, represented routes and runways. Starting from a single point, they diverged in different directions to illustrate the impressive coverage of destinations.
Below the image, the name Continental Airlines was displayed in two lines of thin black letters. The overall image of the emblem conveyed a modern, ambitious enterprise actively expanding.
1991 – 2012
In 1990, Continental Airlines declared bankruptcy due to rising fuel costs related to the Gulf War. The carrier was reorganized. The new investors were Air Partners and Air Canada.
The revitalized company completely revised its visual identity. The design firm Lippincott & Margulies from New York worked on the new symbol.
The blue inscription, in round, chubby letters, ended with a blue square. The figure reminded one of a piece of sky seen through a window. Its shape embodied confidence and new possibilities. A window to a new world, flights to distant countries.
Inside the square, a part of the globe was drawn in white lines, with parallels and meridians marked. The area of the globe corresponds to the location of North America, where the carrier is based.
A more detailed globe indicated that the company had realized a long-held dream: it had begun intercontinental flights to Europe.
In 2010, the merger with United Airlines began and lasted two years. In 2012, the company ceased to exist. Interestingly, both merged carriers had the same founder in the past – Walter T. Varney. The new holding retained a similar visual identity, with Earth in a blue square.
Font and Colors
The light blue color symbolizes the sky. Therefore, it perfectly represents a company involved in air transport. White elements are like clouds soaring high.
The inscription is slightly childish but confident and clear. The lowercase letters emphasize that Continental Airlines is part of a group of other companies. The font is similar to Lapidary 333 Std Bold. The slanted glyphs of t, i, n, and l resemble airplanes taking off.