Air France: “Euro White” At Its Finest!

Air France Airbus A380 – Photo Credit: Kev Cook

The FIFA World Cup recently ended a little more than a week ago whereby France captured its second championship title in 20 years.  Due to this prestigious victory and the fact that Air France is one of the largest and most recognized airlines globally, it seemed only fitting that I write about the airline’s livery as a way of celebrating and congratulating the country’s achievement in the sport of football, known as soccer in North America.

Air France Airbus A300 – Photo Credit: Felix Goetting

Air France was the first airline to really invent the euro white livery.  Simply put, this is a livery with minimal colour whereby white is chosen to dominate almost the entire portion of an aircraft’s fuselage section.  After many years of using blue coupled with chrome on a large portion of the airline’s aircraft, Air France unveiled the euro white livery in 1975.  It didn’t take long for many of the world’s airlines to create liveries of a similar nature in order to reduce labour and save money on the cost of painting their fleet of aircraft.

Air France BAe/Aerospatiale Concorde – Photo Credit: Theirry Ducros

The original euro white livery had the airline’s billboard titles in blue block lettering and the tail section had four diagonal blue stripes and one red stripe that ran parallel along the surface of the tail.  The European Union flag’s stars were also displayed at the top of the tail on the blue stripe that is closest to the structure’s leading edge.  As a child, I used to think of the Air France livery as a flying barcode or UPC code aircraft.  The tail alone made the airline’s aircraft instantly recognizable – an excellent example of successful branding.  For a very brief amount of time the airline’s aircraft had a light grey cheatline running through the windows along the fuselage.

Air France Hippocampe Aile/Winged Sea-Horse Logos

Many people may wonder what the history is behind the hippocampe aile or winged sea-horse logo that has adorned Air France aircraft since the airline’s inception in 1933.  Air France was formed from a merger with various airlines that year and the airline adopted this logo from Air Orient, which has served as an icon for Air France and its parent company on and off over the years.  The logo was placed on the aircraft fuselage for many years up until the unveiling of the new or current livery.

Air France Airbus A318 – Photo Credit: Jaci Stevens

Air France’s first euro white livery lasted up until 2009 whereby a modified version was created by Brandimage.  The agency believes that the new livery highlight’s the carrier’s ambition to be an international brand while the livery continues to stick with the French national colours of blue, white and red.

Air France Airbus A319 – Photo Credit: Jean-Francois Foulon

However, the new livery uses navy blue when compared to the lighter choice of blue in the livery it is replacing.  The Air France billboard titles are set as one word with a new, attractive and elegant typography.  To the right of the billboard titles is a red ribbon-like icon that incorporates some shadowing to achieve the appearance of depth.  When I first saw this feature, it reminded me of the speed mark found on British Airways Landor livery.

Air France Airbus A320 – Photo Credit: Jaci Stevens

The tail of the aircraft saw one blue stripe being removed while the base of the blue and red diagonal stripes were now curved to match the red ribbon-like icon’s shape mentioned up above.  The European Union flag’s stars are still present on the same location of the tail.

Air France Airbus A330-200 – Photo Credit: Jean-Francois Foulon

Air France Airbus A340-300 – Photo Credit: Jean-Francois Foulon

The wing-sea horse logo is now placed on the engine cowlings on both sides of the aircraft making this logo visible to both passengers and aircraft spotters alike.  Air France is a member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance and the alliance’s logo can be found just aft of the cockpit windscreen on both the current and previous livery.

Air France Boeing 747-400 – Photo Credit: Trevor Carl

While the current Air France livery is very simple and plain in nature, there is something about it that exudes elegance and class.  It is very well branded from a recognition standpoint and it will surely continue to set the standard for other airlines seeking a euro white livery.  Air France’s creation in 1975 was and continues to be truly euro white at its finest!

Air France Boeing 777-200ER: Photo Credit: Jaci Stevens

Air France Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – Photo Credit: Jaci Stevens

Vive la France!