Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is excited to launch our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.
Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.
In 2019, British Airways celebrated its 100th anniversary with a unique and nostalgic tribute, adorning three of its Boeing 747-400s in retro liveries that spanned its broad history. These now-retired aircraft were each emblazoned with a distinct chapter of the airline’s past.
BOAC
This iconic navy blue livery, with its bold cheatline and golden “Speedbird” logo, represented the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), a predecessor to British Airways. It symbolized a time of glamour, jet-setting, and pioneering spirit when BOAC dominated the skies with its fleet of 747-100s and BAC VC-10 aircraft among others.
BOAC was dissolved in 1974 and folded into the British Airways brand. The carrier resurrected the livery on G-BYGC.
Negus
Named after Negus and Negus, which was the design agency that created the livery to combine elements of both BEA and BOAC’s identity, this livery marked a new era for British Airways. The understated red, white, and blue stripes reflected a more unified design concept for the newly combined carrier.
This livery would adorn British Airways aircraft from 1974 to 1980. The 2019 retro livery was on G-CIVB.
Landor
The Landor livery, designed by the renowned San Francisco design firm Landor Associates, ushered in a period of modernization and expansion for British Airways. Its bold red and blue lines, along with the stylized “British Airways” typeface, embodied an early 1980s version of British Airways.
The British flag carrier updated its livery again in 1997, putting an end to the regular use of the Landor design. The centenary retro livery was placed on G-BNLY.
BEA
While not a 747, the Airbus A319 adorned in the British European Airways (BEA) livery completed the quartet. With its vibrant grey, white, and blue design and stylized BEA logo, it recalls a time of shorter flights within Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Similar to BOAC, BEA was folded into British Airways in 1974. It no longer flies, either, as it was placed in storage in November 2022, according to planespotters.net.
These retro liveries weren’t just a nostalgic nod to the past; they were a celebration of British Airways’ century-long evolution and enduring legacy. They captured the imagination of aviation enthusiasts and casual travelers alike.
Unfortunately, with the retirement of the 747 from British Airways’ fleet as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, these liveries became relics themselves. While they no longer fly, the three 747s can still be seen on the ground in various locations. Both the Negus and Landor designs were recently repurposed as filming sets and event spaces.
Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.
