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Virgin New Livery?
Question:
>>Because KLM was painting a VS 747-400 in the new livery at Schiphol. >Now that patriotism for you.
Yeah, bit like BA buying GE engines. Now, that would never happen, would it. — Visit the Caribbean Aviation site: http://www2.prestel.co.uk/caribbean/index.htm
Response:
> >>OK, so can anyone explain quite why "Britain’s flag carrier" would unveil >>their new logo in AMSTERDAM? >Because KLM was painting a VS 747-400 in the new livery at Schiphol. > Now that patriotism for you.
So who could VS use in the UK to repaint their aircraft, without using BA? (who would probably write "Virgin" upside-down given previous VS experience with BA’s maintenance side) As a VS Flying Club member I got a flyer through the mail the other day about the new livery, quite nice it looks but hardly ground-breaking. 
mike
Response:
>So who could VS use in the UK to repaint their aircraft, without using >BA? (who would probably write "Virgin" upside-down given previous VS >experience with BA’s maintenance side) >As a VS Flying Club member I got a flyer through the mail the other day >about the new livery, quite nice it looks but hardly ground-breaking.
Marshall’s at Cambridge. Brian
Response:
caused to appear as if it was written: > >Because KLM was painting a VS 747-400 in the new livery at Schiphol. > Now that patriotism for you. >So who could VS use in the UK to repaint their aircraft, without using >BA? (who would probably write "Virgin" upside-down given previous VS >experience with BA’s maintenance side)
Ignoring your unsubstantiated slur against BA maintenance, painting aircraft is hardly rocket science! >As a VS Flying Club member I got a flyer through the mail the other day >about the new livery, quite nice it looks but hardly ground-breaking.
Saw the thing at JFK the other day. YAWN! Branson rambled on about it being the "silver dream machine", but that’s using silver in the sense that people have silver hair! I was sitting in a *real* silver aircraft (with "AA" written on the tail)… Virgin’s is painted grey. >mike
Malc.
Response:
> >So who could VS use in the UK to repaint their aircraft, without using >BA? (who would probably write "Virgin" upside-down given previous VS >experience with BA’s maintenance side) >As a VS Flying Club member I got a flyer through the mail the other day >about the new livery, quite nice it looks but hardly ground-breaking. > Marshall’s at Cambridge.
Ah, true. But their widebody painting bay is probably full repainting BA aircraft in whatever design they’ve decided to use this week. mike
Response:
> Thanks for the info – I guess we should see some photos in tomorrow’s press then, > You’ll have to look really close to see any difference in VA "New??" Livery!! > repainting of the winglets is all I know about…
The new livery: – the entire body is a metallic silver colour; – the red of the tailfin remains, but now extends halfway down the fuselage below the tailfin, edged on four of the five sides with purple; – the carrier’s name is larger in a purple eurostile-like italic font; – the winglets carry union jacks; – the ‘flying lady’ emblem is larger, drop shadowed, and below is the legend ‘Britain’s Flag Carrier’; Geoff.
Response:
Doesn’t sound as if Virgin passengers will remain virgins for long if they have double beds :-) — Little Green Martian
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > says… > Hi, > I thought Virgin were launching their new livery today? I haven’t heard or > seen anything yet? Anybody know what time the launch is, or if it’s already > happened? > Regards > WILL > AvInfo Web Site: http://fly.to/avinfo > To Reply – Remove NOSPAM > LONDON, June 7 (AFP) – Richard Branson, the boss of Virgin > Atlantic airline, on Monday embraced double beds and the national > colours as the latest publicity weapon in his long-standing air wars > with arch rival British Airways (BA). > The Union Jack livery that will henceforth decorate Virgin jets > was famously sidelined by BA two years ago as it sought to project a > worldly, outward-looking image to travellers around the world. > But the multi-coloured tailfins adopted by the national carrier > fell foul of British fliers. > On Sunday BA reversed its policy and vowed to stamp a revamped > national flag on 160 of its 340 jets. > BA chief executive Bob Ayling buckled after two years’ worth of > derision from British fliers, who largely failed to appreciate the > colourful array of designs from around the world that had been > splashed on BA tailfins at a cost of 60 million pounds (96 million > dollars, 84 million euros). > Criticism of the BA designs was famously aired by former prime > minister, now Baroness Thatcher, who draped her handkerchief over a > model jet sporting one of the "awful" ethnic designs. > In the intervening two years, Branson has snapped up the > national flag, hoping to curry favour with Britons, who make up 40 > percent of BA’s passenger numbers. > As part of a a 37-million-pound package of fine-tuning, Branson > also plans to introduce a twin seat that transforms into a double > bed in business class. > Branson said: "Virgin Atlantic is now Britain’s flag carrier. > We’re a young, dynamic, innovative British company and our new > livery and corporate identity fully reflects this. > "But, better still, we will develop this seat technology to > introduce the first ever double bed for business travellers and > their partners. There’s never been a better time to be a Virgin > passenger." > Times are hard for BA, which late last month announced its > lowest profits since the deep recession of the early 1990s. > Pre-tax profits contracted by 61 percent in financial 1998-99 to > 225 million pounds, prompting warnings from the company that the > situation would scarcely improve in the short term.
Response:
As VS hasn’t launched the new website yet, is there anywhere on the web where I could get a glimpse of the new VS? James
Response:
> – the winglets carry union jacks;
so clearly the union jacks aren’t a part of the plan for the classics then? Ian
Response:
> so clearly the union jacks aren’t a part of the plan for the classics then?
The Union Flag billowing from the VS Flying Lady emblem will be quite prominent on all VS aircraft, despite the Classic being challenged in the wingtip department. > Ian
Geoff.
Response:
>OK, so can anyone explain quite why "Britain’s flag carrier" would unveil >their new logo in AMSTERDAM?
Because KLM was painting a VS 747-400 in the new livery at Schiphol. >And why trying to see this "young, dynamic, innovative" British Company, >that happens to own an ISP, has forgotten about the web as a marketing >channel?
Damned poor show, checked the VS web site today and still no info or pics on the new livery. — Visit the Caribbean Aviation site: http://www2.prestel.co.uk/caribbean/index.htm
Response:
caused to appear as if it was written: >OK, so can anyone explain quite why "Britain’s flag carrier" would unveil >their new logo in AMSTERDAM? >Because KLM was painting a VS 747-400 in the new livery at Schiphol.
Ah, of course. And moving 747-400’s is sooooo difficult! Ya gotta wonder whether the guy lost the story, here. By doing his big fanfare launch thing in Holland, he pretty much guaranteed that he wouldn’t get people like the BBC or ITN to send along a camera crew… Personally, had it been up to me, I may well have chosen to fly the new aircraft to MAN, and had the launch there. This avoids BA’s "home turf" of LHR or LGW (which are stuffed full of BA aircraft), and allows a certain regional slant, which makes for good press… >And why trying to see this "young, dynamic, innovative" British Company, >that happens to own an ISP, has forgotten about the web as a marketing >channel? >Damned poor show, checked the VS web site today and still no info or >pics on the new livery.
Better than I can do: tried it just now, and the front page (which will get VERY annoying) contains a link to a server thats, umm, resting! Malc.
Response:
>Because KLM was painting a VS 747-400 in the new livery at Schiphol. > Ah, of course. And moving 747-400’s is sooooo difficult!
It is very difficult to without anyone seeing it. That’s the whole point of a "roll-out" in new colours, it’s the public debut. > Ya gotta wonder whether the guy lost the story, here. By doing his big > fanfare launch thing in Holland, he pretty much guaranteed that he wouldn’t > get people like the BBC or ITN to send along a camera crew…
Do they not have foreign correspondants then? > Personally, had it been up to me, I may well have chosen to fly the new > aircraft to MAN, and had the launch there. This avoids BA’s "home turf" of > LHR or LGW (which are stuffed full of BA aircraft), and allows a certain > regional slant, which makes for good press…
Actually Virgin’s "home turf" as you put it is Gatwick. Hence the fly by of Gatwick before it landed at Heathrow. John
Response:
appear as if it was written: > >Because KLM was painting a VS 747-400 in the new livery at Schiphol. > Ah, of course. And moving 747-400’s is sooooo difficult! >It is very difficult to without anyone seeing it. That’s the whole point of >a "roll-out" in new colours, it’s the public debut.
Au contraire, it’s trivially easy. You do it a night, and you don’t tell the press… > Ya gotta wonder whether the guy lost the story, here. By doing his big > fanfare launch thing in Holland, he pretty much guaranteed that he >wouldn’t get people like the BBC or ITN to send along a camera crew… >Do they not have foreign correspondants then?
Of course they do. But generally they don’t cover "skateboarding ducks", which is what this is (I say generally, because the aforementioned ducks were in fact American, but they weren’t covered by foreign correspondents, either). Secondly, the VAST majority of foreign correspondants are just the on-camera talent. They don’t include the camera crew, who get rented for the occassion and the footage is then uplinked to the parent organization, a process which involves buying time one someone’s network (or satellite). To even suggest that this is as easy as telling a couple of people at Shepherds Bush to pop down the M4 and shoot a piece and bring the tape back is ludicrous! (Substitute the appropriate Manchester directions, as desired). > Personally, had it been up to me, I may well have chosen to fly the new > aircraft to MAN, and had the launch there. This avoids BA’s "home turf" > of LHR or LGW (which are stuffed full of BA aircraft), and allows a certain > regional slant, which makes for good press… >Actually Virgin’s "home turf" as you put it is Gatwick. Hence the fly by of >Gatwick before it landed at Heathrow.
The point was not "where is Virgin’s home turf", but which major airport could they have used which was NOT stuffed full of BA aircraft… >John
Malc.
Response:
Hi, I thought Virgin were launching their new livery today? I haven’t heard or seen anything yet? Anybody know what time the launch is, or if it’s already happened? Regards WILL AvInfo Web Site: http://fly.to/avinfo To Reply – Remove NOSPAM
Response:
> Hi, > I thought Virgin were launching their new livery today? I haven’t heard or > seen anything yet? Anybody know what time the launch is, or if it’s already > happened?
There was just something on the BBC radio news mentioning that they’re going to have double beds in Upper Class, so it will be the first "officially sanctioned Mile-High Club" (according to the grinning one). mike
Response:
says… > Hi, > I thought Virgin were launching their new livery today? I haven’t heard or > seen anything yet? Anybody know what time the launch is, or if it’s already > happened? > Regards > WILL > AvInfo Web Site: http://fly.to/avinfo > To Reply – Remove NOSPAM
LONDON, June 7 (AFP) – Richard Branson, the boss of Virgin Atlantic airline, on Monday embraced double beds and the national colours as the latest publicity weapon in his long-standing air wars with arch rival British Airways (BA). The Union Jack livery that will henceforth decorate Virgin jets was famously sidelined by BA two years ago as it sought to project a worldly, outward-looking image to travellers around the world. But the multi-coloured tailfins adopted by the national carrier fell foul of British fliers. On Sunday BA reversed its policy and vowed to stamp a revamped national flag on 160 of its 340 jets. BA chief executive Bob Ayling buckled after two years’ worth of derision from British fliers, who largely failed to appreciate the colourful array of designs from around the world that had been splashed on BA tailfins at a cost of 60 million pounds (96 million dollars, 84 million euros). Criticism of the BA designs was famously aired by former prime minister, now Baroness Thatcher, who draped her handkerchief over a model jet sporting one of the "awful" ethnic designs. In the intervening two years, Branson has snapped up the national flag, hoping to curry favour with Britons, who make up 40 percent of BA’s passenger numbers. As part of a a 37-million-pound package of fine-tuning, Branson also plans to introduce a twin seat that transforms into a double bed in business class. Branson said: "Virgin Atlantic is now Britain’s flag carrier. We’re a young, dynamic, innovative British company and our new livery and corporate identity fully reflects this. "But, better still, we will develop this seat technology to introduce the first ever double bed for business travellers and their partners. There’s never been a better time to be a Virgin passenger." Times are hard for BA, which late last month announced its lowest profits since the deep recession of the early 1990s. Pre-tax profits contracted by 61 percent in financial 1998-99 to 225 million pounds, prompting warnings from the company that the situation would scarcely improve in the short term.
Response:
> says… > Hi, > I thought Virgin were launching their new livery today? I haven’t heard or > seen anything yet? Anybody know what time the launch is, or if it’s already > happened? > Regards > WILL > AvInfo Web Site: http://fly.to/avinfo > To Reply – Remove NOSPAM > LONDON, June 7 (AFP) – Richard Branson, the boss of Virgin
[...] –and– AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — The skies over Britain are still friendly enough, but the planes are getting pretty patriotic. Virgin Atlantic unveiled a new paint job making prominent use of the Union Jack on its jet fleet Monday, a day after rival British Airways — ridiculed for the “world images” it put on its planes’ tailfins two years ago — said it would repaint the beloved British banner on half of its aircraft. Announcing the changes at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Virgin boss Richard Branson revealed the new look on a Boeing 747-400 that featured silver metallic paint and the Union Jack on the wings and fuselage. The airline also introduced a new corporate logo as well as a “twin seat” design in business class that transforms into a double bed. “Virgin Atlantic is now Britain’s flag carrier,” Branson said. “We’re a young, dynamic, innovative British company, and our new livery and corporate identity fully reflects this.” He said the new colors would give Virgin Atlantic jets “a striking new look for the new millennium.” British Airways was the first to announce new colors. The airline announced Sunday that it was reverting to the Union Jack, replacing the ethnic logos that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once described as “awful.” That announcement came two years after BA first introduced its “world images” tail fins featuring designs ranging from Delft pottery to Chinese calligraphy. About half of BA’s 340-strong fleet used those designs, but 160 aircraft — including the airline’s supersonic Concordes — retained the Union Jack logo. All new aircraft will sport the patriotic look, the airline said. “It’s what our customers want. It is as simple as that,” said British Airways chief executive Bob Ayling. “People in Britain want an image which they can respond to as part of their culture.”
Response:
Thanks for the info – I guess we should see some photos in tomorrow’s press then, Regards WILL
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > says… > Hi, > I thought Virgin were launching their new livery today? I haven’t heard or > seen anything yet? Anybody know what time the launch is, or if it’s already > happened? > Regards > WILL > AvInfo Web Site: http://fly.to/avinfo > To Reply – Remove NOSPAM > LONDON, June 7 (AFP) – Richard Branson, the boss of Virgin > Atlantic airline, on Monday embraced double beds and the national > colours as the latest publicity weapon in his long-standing air wars > with arch rival British Airways (BA). > The Union Jack livery that will henceforth decorate Virgin jets > was famously sidelined by BA two years ago as it sought to project a > worldly, outward-looking image to travellers around the world. > But the multi-coloured tailfins adopted by the national carrier > fell foul of British fliers. > On Sunday BA reversed its policy and vowed to stamp a revamped > national flag on 160 of its 340 jets. > BA chief executive Bob Ayling buckled after two years’ worth of > derision from British fliers, who largely failed to appreciate the > colourful array of designs from around the world that had been > splashed on BA tailfins at a cost of 60 million pounds (96 million > dollars, 84 million euros). > Criticism of the BA designs was famously aired by former prime > minister, now Baroness Thatcher, who draped her handkerchief over a > model jet sporting one of the "awful" ethnic designs. > In the intervening two years, Branson has snapped up the > national flag, hoping to curry favour with Britons, who make up 40 > percent of BA’s passenger numbers. > As part of a a 37-million-pound package of fine-tuning, Branson > also plans to introduce a twin seat that transforms into a double > bed in business class. > Branson said: "Virgin Atlantic is now Britain’s flag carrier. > We’re a young, dynamic, innovative British company and our new > livery and corporate identity fully reflects this. > "But, better still, we will develop this seat technology to > introduce the first ever double bed for business travellers and > their partners. There’s never been a better time to be a Virgin > passenger." > Times are hard for BA, which late last month announced its > lowest profits since the deep recession of the early 1990s. > Pre-tax profits contracted by 61 percent in financial 1998-99 to > 225 million pounds, prompting warnings from the company that the > situation would scarcely improve in the short term.
Response:
appear as if it was written: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — The skies over Britain are still >friendly enough, but the planes are getting pretty patriotic. > Virgin Atlantic unveiled a new paint job making prominent use of >the Union Jack on its jet fleet Monday, a day after rival British >Airways — ridiculed for the “world images” it put on its planes’ >tailfins two years ago — said it would repaint the beloved British >banner on half of its aircraft. > Announcing the changes at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Virgin >boss Richard Branson revealed the new look on a Boeing 747-400 that >featured silver metallic paint and the Union Jack on the wings and >fuselage. > The airline also introduced a new corporate logo as well as a >“twin seat” design in business class that transforms into a >double bed. > “Virgin Atlantic is now Britain’s flag carrier,” Branson said. >“We’re a young, dynamic, innovative British company, and our new >livery and corporate identity fully reflects this.”
OK, so can anyone explain quite why "Britain’s flag carrier" would unveil their new logo in AMSTERDAM? And why trying to see this "young, dynamic, innovative" British Company, that happens to own an ISP, has forgotten about the web as a marketing channel? [ Snip ] > “It’s what our customers want. It is as simple as that,” said >British Airways chief executive Bob Ayling. “People in Britain >want an image which they can respond to as part of their culture.”
This, I think, is part of it. People OUTSIDE Britain may well have liked the idea more than those in it. But if a significant number of Brits *disliked* it (as opposed to feeling neutral), then the thing would be a liability… Malc.
Response:
> "But, better still, we will develop this seat technology to > introduce the first ever double bed for business travellers and > their partners. There’s never been a better time to be a Virgin > passenger." > Times are hard for BA…..
–Indeed. –==++AJC++==–
Response:
> Thanks for the info – I guess we should see some photos in tomorrow’s press then,
You’ll have to look really close to see any difference in VA "New??" Livery!! repainting of the winglets is all I know about… Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.
Response:
> OK, so can anyone explain quite why "Britain’s flag carrier" would unveil > their new logo in AMSTERDAM?
VS used KLM in Amsterdam to repaint the aircraft, > And why trying to see this "young, dynamic, innovative" British Company, > that happens to own an ISP, has forgotten about the web as a marketing > channel?
Nope, the new website www.virgin-atlantic.com launches next monday. > Malc.
Geoff.
Response:
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