If Southwest wanted to keep their full low-fare personality, I think I could get behind the new livery a bit more. But with going after more business travelers, the design says more “party,” than “all business.”
Although I do have to say that I am quite fond of their new heart logo — one might even say that I LUV it (it seems like Southwest is a fan too).
Maybe the excitement will come when I see on of these newly painted birds in person. Has it started growing on you?
The first Boeing 737 (Heart One – N8642E) in Southwest’s new livery – Photo: Mal Muir
On a sunny Texas Monday morning, Southwest gathered hundreds of its employees, along with media from all over the country, to reveal a mystery that had been partially hinted at in previous days. Hints, rumors, and gossip pointed to a new livery and new branding, with huge feedback from not only passengers but Southwest staff wanting to make their feelings known.
But as everyone gathered in the hangar, it was almost a party-like atmosphere. CEO Gary Kelly got into the spirit and was among the staff, greeting folks and posing for photos.
More than just the planes are being updated – Photo: Mal Muir
When Kelly took the stage, he told the crowd how proud they should be. The airline employees have worked hard over the last 12 months for this special moment. “The one constant thing in the company is heart,” he said.
This gave a giant hint into what was to come. As the lights went down, a video played showing a transformation. The old livery shed its skin to a blank canvas. The new heart branding then slowly appeared onto the 737 on screen. Soon after, the doors opened, and there was the 737 in a new livery was waiting outside.
Frontier Airline’s new livery seen out in the open in Denver ’“ Photo: Billy Ellion | @PHXSpotters1
Here it is — in the flesh. This is the new Frontier Airline’s livery seen outside of a hangar at Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR). It looks almost exactly as the leaked image of the livery — which is not too bad.
On Tuesday, Frontier Airlines will have an official unveiling of the new livery and we are excited to see it in person.
Are these the new liveries of Frontier and Southwest?
Today might go down as “Airline Livery Leak Day.” It appears that the new liveries of both Frontier and Southwest Airlines have leaked on the internet today, which shows that it is hard to hide things from social media.
Southwest Airlines has a media event set up at their headquarters for this Monday and Tuesday, where they have been promoting a big announcement. Similarly, Frontier Airlines has scheduled a media event for Tuesday morning, giving big hints of a livery update. But it appears that the big surprise for both might have been ruined.
The Frontier Airlines’ image shows an evolution of their livery with a retro “F,” but keeping the familiar animals on the tail. Whereas the Southwest livery maintains the same colors, but is more revolutionary in its design.
Brand spanking new 777-300ER at Paine Field showing China Eastern’s new livery – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
Behold. This is probably the worst airline livery that I have ever seen.
China Eastern didn’t have the best livery to begin with. But at least it was a livery. Their new colors, shown off on this 777-300ER, look more like a leased plane where they don’t want to spend the money to paint the plane than an actual livery.
But what you are looking at here is China Eastern’s official new livery. It will be going fleet-wide (unless they come to their senses). This is the first of 20 new 777s that the airline plans to take delivery of.
China Eastern Airbus A330 in current livery – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
I am not quite sure how a company can conclude that this is a good idea. Let’s not bother with a creative design down the side or even care about having more than three colors. Let’s just workshop some horrid livery in Microsoft Word and call it a day.
I really, really hope that the airline re-considers this design. Please.
