Great Article-as a kid I was lucky enough to fly internationally on several now deceased carriers. My favorite was Pan Am. Visits to the flight deck, peak into the cock pit talk to the pilots as a kid that was so cool. TWA was another, but Pan Am was it. The only other carrier I flew that came close was Dutch KLM. Back then customer service was an art. Good stuff.
My biggest disappointment is that liveries are not only being dumbed-down but that many airlines have either made minor updates or even brought back 20-year-old designs! As far the brand experience itself, the cabin interiors mostly look alike, not to mention the uniforms! Having led multiple airline re-branding programs, I know firsthand that today's decisions are driven by internal teams and vendors in the industry who are mostly concerned with cost and maintenance over distinction.
This Braniff rebrand is one of my favorite design projects of all time! Thank you for writing so extensively and beautifully about it. ❤️
Just a note: Girard was born in NYC to an American mom and Italian-French dad. He was raised in Florence, Italy, though, and then returned to the US. He was so prolific—definitely a treasure in the world!!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm so happy to hear this has reached other enthusiasts. 🥰 (And thank you for the correction, I've updated the post accordingly.)
As I was reading I thought about how Condor was one of few airlines still trying to create punch across their fleet...just just with individual special paint schemes.
The economic downturn around 9/11 is when airlines really started to look for additional ways to cut costs, which included saving weight, which you referenced. Paint on a medium-sized aircraft can be 500-600 pounds by itself, and then darker colors will actually make the aircraft hotter and more expensive to cool. One example is when US Airways and America West merged, US Airways quickly updated their paint scheme from dark blue to white because of the increased flying in the hot desert sun of the western US.
Absolutely WILD how much the paint can contribute to the total weight. I get it. Hopefully they can find creative ways to infuse more personality in the same way they found creative routes to cut costs.
Thank you, Bella! Isn't it so cool to compare Condor's liveries to those of the golden age of aviation? Makes me appreciate what they're doing so much more.
Bring back the air strip!!!!!!!
sorry someone hacked my account that wasn't me
Hahahahah
Great Article-as a kid I was lucky enough to fly internationally on several now deceased carriers. My favorite was Pan Am. Visits to the flight deck, peak into the cock pit talk to the pilots as a kid that was so cool. TWA was another, but Pan Am was it. The only other carrier I flew that came close was Dutch KLM. Back then customer service was an art. Good stuff.
That's so incredible, I'm beyond jealous! Thank you for reading.
This is my favorite thing I have read on Substack to date !!
Made my whole week 🥺❤️ Going to write about more stories like this!
Great article Tori!
My biggest disappointment is that liveries are not only being dumbed-down but that many airlines have either made minor updates or even brought back 20-year-old designs! As far the brand experience itself, the cabin interiors mostly look alike, not to mention the uniforms! Having led multiple airline re-branding programs, I know firsthand that today's decisions are driven by internal teams and vendors in the industry who are mostly concerned with cost and maintenance over distinction.
You have the coolest job in the world, Claude. Thanks for reading—hopefully we get to see some cool designs again soon!
One quick note: Alexander Girard was Italian and American, born in New York and raised in Florence. A great book about his entire design career (including the Braniff project) was published by Phaidon this year: https://www.phaidon.com/store/design/alexander-girard-let-the-sun-in-9781838667597/
You're so right, my apologies! I've updated the article. Will have to check out this book!
You will love the Braniff chapter!
What a great story, Tori! Would love to see aviation step back into differentiation. Airlines can be safe and fun!
Thank you, Kate! Holding out hope that we'll see some more personality in our domestic carriers soon.
This Braniff rebrand is one of my favorite design projects of all time! Thank you for writing so extensively and beautifully about it. ❤️
Just a note: Girard was born in NYC to an American mom and Italian-French dad. He was raised in Florence, Italy, though, and then returned to the US. He was so prolific—definitely a treasure in the world!!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm so happy to hear this has reached other enthusiasts. 🥰 (And thank you for the correction, I've updated the post accordingly.)
I hope my correction wasn't too annoying! As a Girard super fan, I couldn't help myself! 😂❤️ Thanks again for writing this beautiful piece!
As I was reading I thought about how Condor was one of few airlines still trying to create punch across their fleet...just just with individual special paint schemes.
The economic downturn around 9/11 is when airlines really started to look for additional ways to cut costs, which included saving weight, which you referenced. Paint on a medium-sized aircraft can be 500-600 pounds by itself, and then darker colors will actually make the aircraft hotter and more expensive to cool. One example is when US Airways and America West merged, US Airways quickly updated their paint scheme from dark blue to white because of the increased flying in the hot desert sun of the western US.
Great article!
Absolutely WILD how much the paint can contribute to the total weight. I get it. Hopefully they can find creative ways to infuse more personality in the same way they found creative routes to cut costs.
Thank you for reading!
Love this history and so interesting how history repeats itself when there is an opportunity in the market (all other plans looking nearly identical).
Right?! I'm hoping that this means we'll eventually come back around to fun branding at some point, too.
So interesting! Loved it
Thank you!
So good!!
Thank you 🤍
LOVED this, and I love what Condor is doing now. Death to boring planes!
Thank you, Bella! Isn't it so cool to compare Condor's liveries to those of the golden age of aviation? Makes me appreciate what they're doing so much more.
278573