Lufthansa's first Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental at Paine Field on March 22nd.
Last week I posted an aerial photo of Lufthansa’s first Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental at Paine Field. Many have been asking “what’s up with the livery?” It hast he blue tail and gray bottom, but no Lufthansa lettering or logo. Here’s your answer:
“This aircraft is carrying a “partial” Lufthansa livery, because it will be used for test flight purposes, during which it is still owned and operated by Boeing,” Martin Riecken, Director of Corporate Communications in the Americas for Lufthansa explains. “After the test program (approx. 300 flight hrs) is completed, it will get the missing Lufthansa livery (logotype, crane etc.) in October.”
So there we go, mystery solved. Can’t wait to see the plane in full livery.
Image: moonm
US Airways Airbus A320. Photo by Andrew Vane
By guest columnist Andrew Vane
Although not as flashy or grandiose as some more colorful liveries, US Airways is still transitioning to brightening their fleet from the blue top/grey bottom to a bright white top and blue bottom (with blue tail). The flag icon takes center stage on the tail with a bit of wispy lines drifting back along the fuselage. Gone are the red Air Wisconsin and teal America West colors in favor of a red white and blue themed livery consistent with the airline name.
In addition to the standard livery, US Airways has introduced some retro-themed liveries in former merger/acquisitions PSA Airlines, Piedmont Airlines and Allegheny Air as well as NFL teams from its hubs (Charlotte, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia).
But don’t let the name fool you, US Airways also has flights direct from its Philadelphia and Charlotte hubs for points South to Central America and the Caribbean, and East to Europe with one direct to Tel Aviv (from Philly).
What are your thoughts? Too bland and in need of rebranding or the new normal?
US Airways retro liveries:
* PSA
* Piedmont
* Allegheny
US Airways NFL liveries:
* Philadelphia Eagles
* Pittsburgh Steelers
* Carolina Panthers
* Phoenix Cardinals
airBaltic Boeing 757-200 (YL-BDB)
airBaltic was founded in 1995 and is owned by the government of Latvia. The low cost carrier was founded with a single Saab 340 and they received their first Boeing 737 in 2004. Now airBaltic has a fleet of 34 aircraft consisting of two Boeing 757-200s, eight 737-500s, eight 737-300s, 10 Fokker-50s and eight Bombardier Q400s.
Their livery is simple, but it works. The tail, winglets and landing gear doors go well together all being green. It does seem odd with the engine cowls only being silver in the front.
TAP Portugal Airbus A320 (CS-TNM)
So what the heck does “TAP” stand for? When the airline was established in 1945 it stood for Transportes Areos Portugueses. In 1979 the name was changed to TAP Air Portugal and finally it was simplified to just TAP Portugal.
TAP has an all Airbus fleet of A319, A320, A321, A330 and the A340. They also have 12 Airbus A350s on order. The airline flies to 65 destinations in 31 countries via their fleet of 66 aircraft. They also run a regional airline, called PGA, with 16 additional aircraft.
The livery overlaps the TAP on the front of the fuselage and mostly just has the “P” on the tail. This gives it a clean and unique look, especially with the “TAP PORTUGUAL” going vertically up the tail.
Image: Guido Haesevoets
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The new JAL crane livery outside.
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New crane livery with JAL President and crew
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A Boeing 777-200 (JA0090) sits in the hangar with the Boeing 767 (JA654J)
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Tail of Boeing 767-300ER with crane livery
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Japan Air Line’s new livery on a Boeing 767-300ER. Photo from JAL.
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Cabin crew check out the new Boeing 767 with crane livery.
Japan Air Lines (JAL) has officially unveiled their new crane livery on a Boeing 767-300ER (JA654J) in Tokyo. The plane was flown, unpainted, from Paine Field to JAL’s maintenance center in Tokyo where it was painted in the new livery. The resurrection of the crane is to match the airline’s, “new philosophy and corporate policy which underscore the company’s re-commitment to provide the highest levels of service to customers and to raise its corporate value in order to contribute to the advancement of society.”
The new aircraft will start flying between Haneda and Beijing on March 2, 2011. Before then, it will be flown on a domestic flight between Haneda and Kushiro where Japanese red crowned cranes hang out during the winter.
When I first got a glimpse of the computer generated livery I thought it looked much too plain. In photos I think it looks much better, clean and classy, which I think they are going for. In a time where airline liveries are getting more and more complicated, the simplicity of JALs new crane livery is a nice change. However, I think it is missing something. A swooping cheat-line would really make this livery look complete. What do you think?
Updated: Now sharing six photos, all from JAL.
Here are some other photos:
* Photo of the plane being towed on Airliners.net
* A mock up of the livery on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner
