I did not see a topic on this yet, but if already exists please delete. Looks like a livery change of some sort for United Airlines coming soon. To be revealed sometime around April.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... eo-456444/

Surprised they have not just used the swerved livery on the entire fleet or if they will

sounds good, hopefully it'll look more interesting than the current one

The article says it’ll introduce the new livery as it takes delivery of new aircraft. Does that mean it’ll show up on a Max 9 or a 78J, or is there a new aircraft type due in April that I’m forgetting about?

This thread will get interesting with lots of wild guesses and speculation.......

BWIAirport wrote:

The article says it’ll introduce the new livery as it takes delivery of new aircraft. Does that mean it’ll show up on a Max 9 or a 78J, or is there a new aircraft type due in April that I’m forgetting about?

They are also adding several used planes to the fleet this year, including some ex-HA 767s and a number of 319s.

So a bit of purple may be added?
I am probably one of very few ‘controversial’ people that has always liked the Globe livery and
think it looks great on every aircraft that wears it.
Although off topic(ish) I’ve always thought maybe the post merger livery should have consisted of both liveries so
the UA rising blue fuselage and CO globe tail, would love to see how that looks!!

bo)am

I posted this in the other thread that’s talking about the same thing.
I am probably one of very few ‘controversial’ people that has always liked the Globe livery and
think it looks great on every aircraft that wears it.
Although off topic(ish) I’ve always thought maybe the post merger livery should have consisted of both liveries so
the UA rising blue fuselage and CO globe tail, would love to see how that looks!!

Praying they ditch eurowhite for blue and a return of the tulip with the globe pattern inside it.

Realistically, they’re probably just putting the swoopy 787 livery on everything.

I never minded the Globe livery. I did mind that they slapped a "UNITED" bumper sticker on it for titles for the combined carrier. At one point, they were even going to put "United" in the CO font.

Maybe something a la Copa. Doesn't sound like it's going to be a drastic change

I was never a fan of that livery - when Continental rolled out with that abomination in the early '90s I scratched my head at it then! I always loved the red and blue (and orange) "tulip" livery of United before they botched that circa 1994 or 1995. I always wondered why they couldn't somehow integrate both the CO meatball and the UA tulip into one livery/emblem...

If they plan on rolling out the revised livery only when planes are newly delivered
or due for repainting ...... the "Golden Globe" livery will live on for many more years.

Thank GOD they are moving away from the CO Clipart logo. I don't even mind if they evolve the globe, just please don't make it so generic looking. I loved the UA tulip but it ain't coming back. The "Blue Rising" cheat was one of the best elements from UA, I wouldn't mind seeing that again but that ship has sailed. I did like the gold from CO but also liked the gold from LH, looks like they will be both be gone

I am cautiously optimistic; I love the "new" color palette.. For those that aren't familiar with the color palette:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/f ... 948207002/

“Evolution”? Come on Oscar, UA’s image needs a complete overhaul, not a contemporary tweaking. No one is a fan of the boring other airline’s globe, why keep any iteration of it?

"Evolution" hints of something relatively minor that probably will be disappointing to those wanted a complete overhaul. I for one would rather they keep what they or make drastic changes than make an "evolution".

On a related note, the timing couldn't be more perfect. I always thought UA should wait for a new livery until they get their sheet together in order so that the new livery isn't tarnished by a crappy reputation. IMHO, UA is there:

1. The financials look great.
2. They are the leading US carrier in opening up new innovative international routes.
3. The are working at regaining domestic market share.
4. Their fleet is modernizing and expanding.
5. On-time performance is looking good, right?
6. Customer service seems to be much improved; very subjective...please don't get started.
7. They are introducing a new premium economy (but still keeping E+).
8. Polaris Lounges are amazing and being expanded after some setbacks.
9. Polaris.
10. They are winning in attracting the frequent business flyer (at AA's expense).
11. They are competing well in the Atlantic and Pacific markets against (supposedly superior) foreign carriers.
12. They have the best hubs: #1 in NYC; growing IAD; winning at ORD and getting a new terminal; come back at DEN and winning; holding their own at LAX and have a newly renovated terminal; and killing SFO. oh, and IAH also
13. And they have the largest RJ fleet in the skies, YES;)

Winning, winning, winning, crap, I sound like Charlie Sheen

pls no "atlantic amethyst" on the new livery tho

BWIAirport wrote:

The article says it’ll introduce the new livery as it takes delivery of new aircraft. Does that mean it’ll show up on a Max 9 or a 78J, or is there a new aircraft type due in April that I’m forgetting about?

The CRJ-550

I fear 'evolution' will mean another decade of the horrid globe which is almost 30 years old. It's beyond 'dated' and tired at this point. Please at least change the crap 'last minute decision' font courtesy of Smisek.

ACCS300 wrote:

I fear 'evolution' will mean another decade of the horrid globe which is almost 30 years old. It's beyond 'dated' and tired at this point. Please at least change the crap 'last minute decision' font courtesy of Smisek.

When I think of an evolution style livery change I think of QANTAS' recent re-fresh

DeltaRules wrote:

I never minded the Globe livery. I did mind that they slapped a "UNITED" bumper sticker on it for titles for the combined carrier. At one point, they were even going to put "United" in the CO font.

It took me years before I could finally look at a plane and think “United” - my mind kept translating it to Continental. It represented the outcome of the merger afaic. Things are rolling along for them now so time to dress it up a bit perhaps.

I'm not sure why people hate the globe. It has a professional look and that's what Continental was about. They were kind of the only legacy that had their act together in the late 90's and 2000's.

Let's get over the tulip idea and hope for something completely new. They have done a stupendous job of rebranding so this livery change will be the icing on the cake.

steeler83 wrote:

I was never a fan of that livery - when Continental rolled out with that abomination in the early '90s I scratched my head at it then! I always loved the red and blue (and orange) "tulip" livery of United before they botched that circa 1994 or 1995. I always wondered why they couldn't somehow integrate both the CO meatball and the UA tulip into one livery/emblem...

UA battleship gray: Late 1992/early 1993...newly-delivered 757 was painted in PHX at DynAir.

emuwarveteran wrote:

sounds good, hopefully it'll look more interesting than the current one

Won't be difficult!

BojamDelta wrote:

So a bit of purple may be added?
I am probably one of very few ‘controversial’ people that has always liked the Globe livery and
think it looks great on every aircraft that wears it.....
bo)am

I actually quite like UA livery as well, although a bit more colour would be nice elsewhere.

Using the term “evolution” could be a way to tamp down expectations. However, I’m fully prepared to be disappointed with minute changes.

Oh, thank God. I always liked CO’s livery, but it’s 30 years old now and, well, still *continental’s* livery. An evolution, even if relatively minor, is long overdue.

I like the continental globe but not the body. The Boeing wave applied to the colors looks much better. But the United font isnt great.

I would expect to adopt the wave fleet wide, update the globe with more flair, and fix the font

Looks discouraging, especially the
letterbox branding, that’s just tacky

IAmGaroott wrote:

Praying they ditch eurowhite for blue and a return of the tulip with the globe pattern inside it.

Realistically, they’re probably just putting the swoopy 787 livery on everything.

Did you bother to read the article?

Maybe it will be as "inspiring" as Lufthansa's. Extend the blue all the way, shrink the globe and put it smaller and smack in the middle of the tail, and use LH's lettering. Then the two will look equally unimaginative. Wonder what "evolution" could be in store?

DarthLobster wrote:

“Evolution”? Come on Oscar, UA’s image needs a complete overhaul, not a contemporary tweaking. No one is a fan of the boring other airline’s globe, why keep any iteration of it?

You certainly don't speak for everyone.

This is exciting and the timing could not be better. UA is in much better shape now than it has ever been since the 2010 merger. Aircraft liveries are really not all that much of a focus for airlines as they used to be, with the exception being legacy liveries which are popping up everywhere. The adapted livery on UA's jets are a bit plain looking yes, and while the tail is fine, the U N I T E D logo on the sides does look like a bumper sticker. The globe can and should evolve a bit more dimensionally and some added color or depth of color could be applied here. Hopefully they won't go for the acqua/turquoise stuff that popped up in the last iteration of the uniforms and the purple color scheme they've applied to the new Premium Plus product does not really go with gold and royal blue, so we will have to see what they do. I am guessing some sort of Qantas style refresh of the titles and some improvement and enhancements on the cheat lines and tail. Anyone have any guessed renditions drawn out?

I'm tipping/guessing it's just UA getting rid of both the existing grey/yellow straight and swervy (787) cheatlines. Perhaps replaced with a blue and purple swervy cheatline (ala the 787 livery) while still keeping the globe.

That Death Star was awful when it came out and it's still awful now. Hopefully they come up with a completely new tail with no globe in sight.

I saw the UA max livery for the first time in person recently and have to say it is a different and very flattering livery. I immediately thought that it wouldve looked great on their 727's as well. I hope the "evolution" is a good revision of their current livery. April is almost here and we already have a 777x to see unveiled next week, so lets hope to be pleasantly surprised

ikramerica wrote:

I like the continental globe but not the body. The Boeing wave applied to the colors looks much better. But the United font isnt great.

I would expect to adopt the wave fleet wide, update the globe with more flair, and fix the font

Stole the words out of my mouth

Super80Fan wrote:

That Death Star was awful when it came out and it's still awful now. Hopefully they come up with a completely new tail with no globe in sight.

That absolutely won't happen. The globe is on absolutely everything, including even the most recently introduced brand elements, like the Polaris cabin signage.

I'm thinking perhaps more dark blue/purple and silver, a'la the new uniforms, and billboard titles.

I smell an Alaska-style refresh.

From the article, i dont like the fact that the UNITED title on the plane doesnt go all the way down billboard style. Going just below the windows doesnt look right IMO. Then again I also thought they should've added AIRLINES to the aircraft with a kind of retro italicizing. That would've looked cool.

TWA772LR wrote:

I smell an Alaska-style refresh.

From the article, i dont like the fact that the UNITED title on the plane doesnt go all the way down billboard style. Going just below the windows doesnt look right IMO. Then again I also thought they should've added AIRLINES to the aircraft with a kind of retro italicizing. That would've looked cool.

It’s a good thing the rendering in the article isn’t the template for the new livery then, huh?

Could the Blue-on-Blue IFE/United Polaris signage be a subtle hint?

I’ll be sad to see the globe change from the current look; I think it’s timeless and professional.

Any idea of the plane to be painted in April? New delivery? If so would it be spotted at Boeing field? Or current plane in fleet? Or any used airbus being delivered in April?

jetKIWI wrote:

Could the Blue-on-Blue IFE/United Polaris signage be a subtle hint?

That's a good thought. The article mentions the likelihood of less gold and the incorporation of some of the other colors UA has added to their branding palette.

With United talking about how they want to connect people around the world and stuff, it makes more sense for them to keep some variation of the globe instead of using a tulip or whatever.

TTailedTiger wrote:

I'm not sure why people hate the globe. It has a professional look and that's what Continental was about. They were kind of the only legacy that had their act together in the late 90's and 2000's.

Because people didn't like to see the tulip replaced by the globe, which made them hate the globe itself when there really wasn't anything wrong with it.

NYPECO wrote:

With United talking about how they want to connect people around the world and stuff, it makes more sense for them to keep some variation of the globe instead of using a tulip or whatever.

TTailedTiger wrote:

I'm not sure why people hate the globe. It has a professional look and that's what Continental was about. They were kind of the only legacy that had their act together in the late 90's and 2000's.

Because people didn't like to see the tulip replaced by the globe, which made them hate the globe itself when there really wasn't anything wrong with it.

As a CO guy, a silver and blue tulip on the nose ala Qantas would be pretty cool to see.

Scarebus34 wrote:

TWA772LR wrote:

I smell an Alaska-style refresh.

From the article, i dont like the fact that the UNITED title on the plane doesnt go all the way down billboard style. Going just below the windows doesnt look right IMO. Then again I also thought they should've added AIRLINES to the aircraft with a kind of retro italicizing. That would've looked cool.

It’s a good thing the rendering in the article isn’t the template for the new livery then, huh?

It said it could be a clue to whats in store.

Makes sense. The gold is not quite relevant.

The Blue-on-Blue like they use on the Polaris branding would look sharp on the tail. Modern and fresh. Bout time.