JAGflyer From Canada, joined Aug 2004, 3321 posts, RR: 4 Posted (5 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 10037 times:
Looking through the database I noticed several airlines (primarily former soviet-bloc nations) which still retain and paint new aircraft in very old fashioned/dated schemes. Obviously these airlines are not major world players but you'd still think they'd like to try and update their image. One exception is Olympic who's A340s looked incredible with the scheme they had painted them in.
spiritair97 From United States of America, joined Jan 2011, 1231 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (5 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 9997 times:
Even though I think it is one of the most elecgant and understated liveries around, the CO Globetail livery.
Can't really count AA, since they are updating their brand image.
JAL is just awful. Not elegant, just looks cheap.
SQ, while nice, is old.
KU is kinda outdated-looking.
S7, I d't know how Old it is, but it seems like it's been around a long enough time.
PacNWjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 839 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (5 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 9958 times:
Quoting JAGflyer (Thread starter): Obviously these airlines are not major world players but you'd still think they'd like to try and update their image.
And yet many of us a.netters get super excited when airlines come out with retro liveries.
SCQ83 From United States of America, joined Oct 2012, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 9853 times:
Air Malta used to have one of the most outdated deliveries in Europe. Thankfully they are getting (if they haven't got it yet, but I saw an Air Malta with their hideous old livery this summer in TXL) a new one soon.
Other dreadful European liveries: Air Europa, Meridiana Fly, Transaero, Rossiya and Aerosvit. Former Soviet airlines could learn from Aeroflot and their brand/livery renewal from the early 00s that, I think, is awesome.
Two different things. Those liveries look like they were designed in 10 minutes in the 80s in some Soviet government office. Usually retro liveries use sophisticated, now classical, designs.
It is the difference between a 1960 Cadillac convertible and a 1990 Yugo hatchback.
spiritair97 From United States of America, joined Jan 2011, 1231 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (5 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 9582 times:
Quoting SCQ83 (Reply 3): Other dreadful European liveries: Air Europa, Meridiana Fly, Transaero, Rossiya and Aerosvit.
While I do agree with you on that Meridiana Fly, Transaero and Rossiya have outdated liveries, I love the new blue Aerosvit colors, and for some reason I like the Air Europa colorscheme.
I can't really agree in the case of Yemenia. If their new livery is to be considered dated, then virtually every livery that relies primarily on a white fuselage should be considered dated. The crisp red and blue at the tail and relocation of the text with the removal of the cheat lines makes it pretty standard in today's world.
I personally find the Azerbaijan Airlines livery very stately, especially on the widebodies, and it is decidedly cleaner than then one shown on the 727. However, I can certainly see how that would be considered "dated" by many people.
Quoting AF185 (Reply 5): IMO, CA has the most outdated livery among major carriers.
But it is actually nice to see older liveries
I'd say MU is not far behind, and you could make a case for CZ as well. They all look pretty dated.
I was going to suggest Air Koryo as a dated livery, but on second thought, that livery may be perfectly aligned to its operating environment!
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16814 posts, RR: 57 Reply 8, posted (5 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 9457 times:
Quoting AF185 (Reply 5): IMO, CA has the most outdated livery among major carriers.
airsmiles From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2009, 76 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7248 times:
Interesting point made earlier about us generally liking the retro liveries. These often have traditional designs with some form of cheat line yet I think most would perceive cheat lines as being old fashioned.
I do like some of the latest airline liveries but I do think cheat lines in various forms are aesthetically suited to aircraft, that are long and thin by design. Are there any successful, modern major airline liveries that incorporate cheat lines but still work?
dergay From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 23 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7212 times:
Don't forget AF - it is awful, particularly when they don't wash or clean them. For such a chic and fashion conscious Country, they really could do better!
Flown on A300,A310,A318,A319,A320,A321,A330,B707,B720,B727,B737,B747,B757,B767,L382,L1011,C5,DC-3,DC8,
na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9607 posts, RR: 10 Reply 13, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7212 times:
Blue cheatlines mostly make liveries appear very old fashioned and remind me of the communist era when many eastern airlines had dull Aeroflot-influenced "blue collar" liveries.
Quoting AF185 (Reply 5):
IMO, CA has the most outdated livery among major carriers.
Indeed, unbelievable for the flagcarrier of such an important and fast-growing country to wear old rags. I do like their double cheatline on the 747, but the colours are very dull to say the least. Please change it very soon!
Quoting spiritair97 (Reply 1): JAL is just awful. Not elegant, just looks cheap.
Truly awful, a bad joke, the outcome of a night meeting of clueless managers and too much Sake. No other explanation possible.
SQ, while nice, is old.
Exactly. Very 80s. 10 year old planes are regarded as old by SQ, so what about the 25 year old livery based on a 40 year-old one.
Quoting BlueLine (Reply 10):
The livery IB currently has would have looked outdated 30 years ago.
I disagree. Very modern in the late 70s, it imho still looks good and unique with the exception of the tail logo which needs a change.
While old, its at least special and rich. One of the old liveries that are so good any change is likely one to the worse. Btw, they tried to introduce a new one some years ago, and not a bad one, but changed their mind quickly.
bluesky73 From UK - England, joined Oct 2012, 134 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7089 times:
I actually like a cheatline and if designed in right way can complement an aircraft.
White fuselage started to get popular in the mid-late eighties with Pan Am and emirates. I think Lufthansa current livery was 1990 (ish) but to be fair are starting to look dated themselves.
A lot of airlines then went for coloured engines and tails, Finnair etc ( which I loved) compared to the new uncreative and anaemic Finnair livery.
Was sad to see Malaysian red/blue stripe go and current 380 livery is not do nice.
I hope more airlines start bringing back the cheatline, other fashions go full circle so be nice to see some cheatline a back
Air Malta used to have one of the most outdated deliveries in Europe. Thankfully they are getting (if they haven't got it yet, but I saw an Air Malta with their hideous old livery this summer in TXL) a new one soon.
a36001 From Australia, joined Sep 2012, 84 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 6939 times:
Personally I think the livery of JAL is great. It's plain yes, but they use what looks like brilliant white, and it looks very sleek, clean and modern with the black and then the bright red of their iconic logo. IMHO sometimes less is more. JAL and Qantas are two that can be applied to. Again just my opinion.
conaly From Germany, joined May 2005, 9 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 6868 times:
Quoting spiritair97 (Reply 1): S7, I d't know how Old it is, but it seems like it's been around a long enough time.
Not really. The current green livery was introduced in 2006, after they changed their brand from Sibir (Siberia Airlines) to their IATA-Code S7. In the Sibir-times between 1992 and 2006 they had a typical white livery with blue stripes, which wasn't to different from the former (Soviet) Aeroflot livery.
DarkSnowyNight From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 979 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 6460 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 8):
There is this anachronistic travesty... Fortunately, I hear they're changing it soon.
It doesn't age well, is what it is. I've had the opportunity to view a lot of their new metal up real close & personal (In fact, there is a 738 flying around with my thumbprints comprising some of the 1st "blemishes" on it as we speak), back in my DFW days. Even the 737s look pretty sharp when they have that mirror like finish to them. It just doesn't last is the thing...
Quoting spiritair97 (Reply 1): JAL is just awful. Not elegant, just looks cheap.
I don't know why people keep saying that. You need to see it in person. That white is very, very clean, and a much "higher temp" than typical. Really, the only thing they could have improved would be the font of the titles. I'd have made it a little smaller, and maybe gone with something like what we see on the updated QANTAS.
Posting without Talent is simply Tolerated Vandalism... We are the Vandals.
JAL? OMG, I think its really one of the worst worldwide, if not THE worst among the majors. There is absolutely zero new and modern, the logo from the 60s, the titles also oldfashioned. Unbelievably poor. Even old AA looks fresh and modern against it. I still hope its just a transition scheme. But JAL is just a mere shodow of a great past all over. Its scheme looks like a temporary measure of an airline mainly employing short-leased equipment. Reminds me a lot of the Air Atlanta-operated Hadj-planes of Saudia. If thats modern, I better keep wearing my top hat
DarkSnowyNight From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 979 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 6237 times:
Quoting na (Reply 22): If thats modern, I better keep wearing my top hat
You're going to hurt my monocle's feelings with talk like that.
Posting without Talent is simply Tolerated Vandalism... We are the Vandals.
Braybuddy From Ireland, joined Aug 2004, 5283 posts, RR: 35 Reply 25, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 5766 times:
My vote goes to Lufthansa. I know it's been updated over the years, but that tail? Must be 50 years now in its present form. Keep the crane for sure, but it badly needs to be given a new twist. I'm thinking of something like Air Canada did with the maple leaf: something snazzy and modern would look wonderful, instead of the staid old yellow circle on blue.
Quoting na (Reply 13): Exactly. Very 80s. 10 year old planes are regarded as old by SQ, so what about the 25 year old livery based on a 40 year-old one.
+1. I never liked this reworking of the old livery (I suspect Landor is the guilty party here as with the 80s BA livery) and they missed the boat by not designing a new livery for their A380s, seeing they are such an imortant part of their fleet.
AWACSooner From United States of America, joined Jan 2008, 1415 posts, RR: 1 Reply 26, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 5834 times:
Quoting SmittyOne (Reply 24): When I saw the subject line all I could think of was this:
That's it...lock this thread down, it possibly can't get any better than this!!!
OM617 From United States of America, joined Mar 2012, 21 posts, RR: 0 Reply 30, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1991 times:
I am totally anachronistic (or AAnachornistic if you will)! Gimme cheatlines and color! My heart sinks when I hear an airline is getting a new livery, as I am usually disappointed.
I love too many 'dated' liveries to list, but the standout worst 'new' liveries for me include Ethiopian (stole half of NBC logo) and Air Mauritius.
spiritair97 From United States of America, joined Jan 2011, 1231 posts, RR: 1 Reply 31, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1864 times:
I do agree, the white is different than usual whites, but put something there to go with it! I hate when airline go back to their old liveries and take things away, rather than add to/change it. Also, the old-style crane on JAL, while elegant, looks horrible on newer aircraft types. The 787 is a eautiful aircract, but the plainess and dating of that livery just doesn''t look good on such a modern machine. The 777s look ALRIGHT, and the 737s look good, but that's about it.
I know I'm gonna take a lot of crap for this statement, but that's it.