Continental Airlines Logo PNG
The Continental Airlines logo symbolizes air travel and adventure. This emblem represents lightness, freedom, beauty, and the world’s openness.
The light blue lettering evokes the sky and the world of air travel. The square on the right reflects key brand values: stability, reliability, and trust. The voluminous globe inside the square symbolizes international flights and endless opportunities for travelers worldwide. The white-and-blue ball complements the logo’s overall color scheme and embodies harmony and peace.
The Continental Airlines emblem reflects professionalism, stability, and safety in air travel while also calling for adventure and exploration, helping travelers 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, 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, a 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 to update its fleet and services. In 2009, it left SkyTeam and joined Star Alliance. In 2010, Continental announced a merger with United Airlines; the combined company became 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 routes, prompting rebranding. All images are based on a circle pointing to Earth. Continental Airlines’ owners never lost their dream of intercontinental flights. This desire would not be realized for 50 years after its founding. The company’s second constant symbol is the eagle. The bird linked the carrier to its country of origin 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 America’s second-largest carrier. Its revenue was about $15 billion. The company’s logistics network included three major hubs: 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 then-highest speed. 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 airmail contracts. Robert Six acquired the financially struggling carrier in 1936 and renamed it Continental Airlines a year later. The renamingled tof a new logo.
The circular shape was maintained in the background. It’s formed by three lines: red, black, and a thin black border around the whole composition. The figure depicts the globe, reflecting the carrier’s ambition to offer intercontinental flights.
In the foreground, a schematic image of an eagle with outstretched wings appears. The bird symbolizes America and, at the same time, represents flight. Therefore, it’s a perfect symbol for an airline. The eagle’s wings are schematically drawn, resembling two airplane keels.
The red at the bottom and along the inner circle hints at the original 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 section conveys the new carrier’s global reach, 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 and began nonstop flights. Until then, the airliner landed 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 a much smaller image of an eagle because, at the time, the fleet had only one airplane for non-stop flights, and only five were planned.
The bird figure 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 neared the final abandonment of piston and turboprop airplanes and switched to the Boeing 727 jet. This expanded flight routes and improved service quality.
The progress was captured in a new emblem developed by designer Saul Bass.
The red circle at the center hinted at Varney Speed Lines’ once-high-speed flights. 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 emblem conveyed a modern, ambitious enterprise in active expansion.
1991 – 2012
In 1990, Continental Airlines filed for bankruptcy because of rising fuel costs tied to the Gulf War. The carrier was reorganized. New investors included Air Partners and Air Canada.
The revitalized company completely revised its visual identity. The New York-based design firm Lippincott & Margulies created 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 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 once shared the same founder: 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. It therefore represents a company involved in air transport. The white elements resemble clouds soaring high.
The inscription is slightly childish but confident and clear. The lowercase letters emphasize that Continental Airlines is part of a larger group. The font resembles Lapidary 333 Std Bold. The slanted glyphs of t, i, n, and l resemble airplanes taking off.