What would a national airline logo look like? – Asia
What would a national airline logo look like? – Europe
Korean Air's new CI has recently become a hot topic. Airline service is one of the first brands recognized when visiting a foreign country. Among the various airlines, the brand design of a country's representative airline reveals the values and culture that the country holds dear.
‘A "flag carrier" is an airline representing a country. While there are no international qualifications, it typically refers to an airline with a long history and high recognition, embodying the identity of a country or nation.
The commonly used term "national airline" refers to an airline headquartered in a specific country, encompassing a wide range of airlines. "National airline" refers to an airline operated by a government, while "national airline" refers to an airline that carries out national policy objectives.
In this article, we explore how the logos of flag carriers around the world are designed. We researched airlines representing each continent and country, and selected three striking logos for each theme.
South Korea's Korean Air will continue to use the Taegeuk pattern and calligraphy until 2025. The Taegeuk pattern symbolizes Korea's traditional harmony of yin and yang and expresses the Korean identity. The white curve at the center symbolizes the rotation of a propeller, representing dynamic power. The wordmark, with its calligraphic style, is bold, powerful, and has a refined feel.
Thailand's 'Thai Airways' golden orchid design symbolizes Thai art and hospitality. The orchid's curves evoke a soft and elegant feeling, and the shape of the logo is inspired by the graceful curves found in traditional Thai dance and architecture. The color purple symbolizes royalty and nobility. goldThe colors symbolize the traditional splendor and elegance of Thai culture. The central pink symbolizes warmth and friendly hospitality.
Emirates Airlines, the United Arab Emirates, uses a combination of Arabic script and an English logo. The name "Emirates" (الإمارات, Al-Imarat) is designed in a traditional Arabic script to emphasize the brand's Arab cultural identity, while the English "Emirates" is designed in a sans-serif font with Arabic calligraphy characteristics.
Japan Airlines uses the "Tsurumaru" (鶴丸), which means "crane." It features a soaring red crane encased within a circle. The circle symbolizes harmony and perfection, while the crane symbolizes good fortune and longevity. The red color symbolizes the red sun, like the Japanese flag, and the white color symbolizes purity.
China's "Air China" logo features a phoenix. The phoenix, a legendary creature, has traditionally been a symbol of virtue and goodness, and the color red symbolizes good fortune and joy in China. The Chinese characters used in the logo are said to have been written by Deng Xiaoping.
North Korea's Air Koryo is inspired by a flying crane. In the past, the crane's wings were shaped like the Korean Peninsula, but in 2024, they were simplified to a simple wing shape.
Bhutan's flag, Drukair, uses the dragon. The dragon, a character from Burmese mythology, is also featured on the Bhutanese flag. Symbolizing the Kingdom of Bhutan's traditions, culture, and power, the dragon symbolizes protection and is depicted as a beacon of good fortune and peace.
Nepal Airlines, the national airline of Nepal, uses the symbol of Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, on its aircraft. Its aircraft have also been given a new livery resembling the Nepalese flag, which is unique in the world in that it consists of two overlapping triangles rather than a square.
Iran's IranAir uses the Homa (or Huma), a bird of good fortune or heaven in Persian mythology. Designer Edward Zorabian said he was inspired by the imagery atop the columns of Persepolis. With the head of an eagle, the ears of a cow, and the mane of a horse, it is said to have no legs and soars high and high throughout its life.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines uses a "horse" logo. The horse's mane is used to create a triangular outline, creating the illusion of a bird in flight or wings. The aircraft's livery primarily uses yellow and blue, with a unique red accent on the "A." The subtle curves of the horse's eyes and mouth create a subtle sense of delight.
Qatar Airways, the national airline of Qatar, uses the Arabian onyx as its national symbol. The Arabian onyx is a species of antelope native to the desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula. Its representative color is a dark burgundy, the color of the Qatari flag.
Taiwan's "China Airlines" uses the plum blossom logo. The plum blossom, Taiwan's national flower, symbolizes strength and dignity. The airline uses a large, detailed plum blossom image on the tail of its aircraft. The aircraft's fuselage is primarily white and blue. Due to the name "China Airlines," the airline has avoided or minimized its use of the wordmark due to confusion with mainland China.
Saudi Arabia's "Saudi Airlines" logo features a date palm tree. The overlapping swords symbolize the unity of Saudi Arabia, expressed in a simplified form. Uniquely, it avoids Arabic calligraphy and instead uses a geometrically shaped alphabet. Its representative colors are green, a symbol of Saudi Arabia, and sand, reminiscent of the desert.
Lebanon's Middle East Airlines (MEA) uses the Cedar Tree. The Cedar Tree is a high-altitude cedar tree native to the Himalayas and is also featured on the Lebanese flag.
Israel's El Al uses a logo that combines Hebrew and English. The English version, meaning "Towards the Highest," stands vertically against a light blue background, while the Hebrew version is dark blue and tilted slightly to the right. A simplified version of the Israeli flag is placed at the end of the wordmark. Beneath it is the tagline in Hebrew, meaning "The Most Homely Place in the World.".
The Maldivian logo, for the Maldives, uses red calligraphy, capturing the relaxed feel of a tropical vacation. The fuselage's tail features a blue dolphin, a marine mammal commonly seen in Maldivian waters.
