American Airlines new livery

Tenger

Seems that the recent rumours are correct in that AA are unveiling a new livery today.

I am sure we are all familiar with their iconic bare metal livery that has been in place (with various little tweaks) since the late 1960's:

American Airlines B772 at ORD by tearbringer, on Flickr


New livery:

New AA livery by tearbringer, on Flickr

The fuselage is actually a light gray rather than white.
Here's a nice shot of the B737 on approach to DFW:
http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7541329

New logo:
https://twitter.com/greg787/status/291906778130681858/photo/1

donvito99

I have to say I like it. Logo good. Some are complaining about the tail, but it puts the American in American if you ask me now that the red and blue stripes have gone. I'll mourn the dearth of an eagle though.

globemaster1986

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/american-unveils-new-soaring-spirit-livery-381202/

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

globemaster1986

Just found this. Livery actually looks pretty good on a real aircraft:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/American-Airlines/Boeing-737-823/2214582/L/

Peregrine

I rather like the new design. While the old one was iconic it was way past it's time and I for one won't miss it

BuffyBot

Quite like it too. The tail is very nice. The font for "American" might grow on me, but that's the bit that I'm not gone on so far.

funkey_monkey

I really liked the old livery. The bare metal finish with the horizontal stripes, whilst fairly old, was/is now iconic and stood out.

It now looks like many other carriers. They should have carried through the bare metal finish although I suppose with the move towards composites in the fuselage construction this might be no longer fully possible.

Meh.

lord lucan

Looks much better in real life than on paper. Will still miss driving alongside 28/10 on the way into work and seeing their 767 in original livery glistening in the sun(probably 3 hours late!!) as it begins its take off roll.

pconn062

I like it although I have to admit I was not a fan of the old design, yes it was iconic, but I just never warmed to the bare metal finish.

Davy

globemaster1986 wrote: »

Just found this. Livery actually looks pretty good on a real aircraft:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/American-Airlines/Boeing-737-823/2214582/L/

Anyone else think it kinda looks like the military colours? I know its a lighter shade etc, but thats what it reminds me off.

donvito99

As far as I'm aware, it was not possible for Boeing to achieve the bare metal finish, what with new materials etc.

You'd have to go for an Aeroflot finish if you wanted to keep the polished aluminium.

That's what I've heard anyway.

Stinicker

Who here is thinking that "American" will be the new name of a future AA - US Airways merged airline which has been hinted at for so long?

Tenger

Stinicker wrote: »

Who here is thinking that "American" will be the new name of a future AA - US Airways merged airline which has been hinted at for so long?

Well it makes sense to retain the better known brand (Delta/NorthWest, United/Continental) (I do like that US Airways retained the callsign of America West when they merged a few years ago) [Cactus BTW]
While US may have a better presence in some markets (ie CO flew into Ireland,not UA) AA is the larger brand so it would stay.


Some internet ppl are also pointing out how the new livery is more similar to the current US livery. This way maybe employees in both airlines will be happy to go to a new livery rather than that of a competitor.

As for the housekeeping of the bare metal....yes it was not achievable on composite fuselages so was always going to change at some point. Previously when AA flew their A300 these aircraft were white with the AA red/white/blue mid body cheatlines. Even today you can see how the nose of all their aircraft is white rather than bare metal, (radar doesn't like metal blocking its view)

Turbulent Bill

funkey_monkey wrote: »

I really liked the old livery. The bare metal finish with the horizontal stripes, whilst fairly old, was/is now iconic and stood out.

It now looks like many other carriers. They should have carried through the bare metal finish although I suppose with the move towards composites in the fuselage construction this might be no longer fully possible.

Meh.

Exactly, the new scheme is really bland. They should have done a fairly mild redesign like Aer Lingus did the last time - keep the iconic branding and just refresh it.

BeardySi

I like it - was never a fan of the older one, this is a lot more stylish... Could have done with keeping the eagle on the tail though.

Zonda999

As much as I despise the Daily Mail, this link has a few more pictures of the new livery

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264293/American-Airlines-new-logo-Farewell-Silver-Bird-fleet-welcome-Team-America.html





Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the old livery but I don't particularly like this new one either. I'm not quite sure why, I don;t mind the new tail, I think its the new font and logo, its just notimposing enough or something. And its certainly nowhere near as distinctive as the old livery. I'll give it a chance until I see it on one of the Americans new 77W's (And I mean a real photo, as opposed to the graphic ones that are going around), that's a far better looking aircraft than the 738 we've seen it on so far

Speaking of american carriers livery's, here is one i really like from a bit back!

donvito99

At least someone along the line said, "no eurowhite, lads." That palish grey on the fuselage looks great IMO.


Meanwhile at Iberia,

http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/viewphoto.main?LC=nav2&picid=8198

Shamelessly taken from Airliners

highlydebased

Not bad at all when you consider some of the new liveries to appear over the last few years

Best username ever

Definitely a better looking paint job. I bet the old silver paint used to cost a fortune to put on.

Marcusm

Best username ever wrote: »

Definitely a better looking paint job. I bet the old silver paint used to cost a fortune to put on.

Huh?

Best username ever

Marcusm wrote: »

Huh?

It's not paint then? I've never been up close to one. Polished aluminium?

b757

New livery looks great!

Best username ever wrote: »

It's not paint then? I've never been up close to one. Polished aluminium?

Yes..

donvito99

Best username ever wrote: »

It's not paint then? I've never been up close to one. Polished aluminium?

Spot on.

BuffyBot

Most of their fleet was unpainted. Part of the logic for this new livery is that many of the new aircraft coming on stream (787) are made of composites and thus the same effect can't be achieved.

When they operated A300's, they were painted silver, and the tails left grey due to their composite nature.

K900

I was catching a flight at AA's T8 at JFK on Friday. They had the new B738 on a station roadshow. Got to say the livery looks gorgeous in person. The tail, in particular, is very intricate.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

donvito99

Bloody love it. Fair play to AA.

You have to read it to believe the hatred and vitriol that this livery has inspired on Airliners.net, it's something else!

BuffyBot

I did think it would look good on the 77W based on the CGI images, and it really does look great in real life (much more impressive than on the 738's).

I'll get to fly on one in a few weeks, all going to plan. I'm looking forward to seeing it up close.

Tenger

donvito99 wrote: »

Bloody love it. Fair play to AA.

You have to read it to believe the hatred and vitriol that this livery has inspired on Airliners.net, it's something else!

I think any design was always going to inspire that hatred. The old livery was so iconic and long lasting that nothing would be able to stand up to its legacy. Some ppl on A.Net were even angry months ago at the thought of changing the livery.

In saying that I am not inspired by this livery. It looks very 'now' and trendy,which of course means it will be refreshed in line with normal airline processes. However I do like the pale grey fuselage,it may be boring but its a pleasant change from white. At US airports the AA aircraft break up the vista of dozens of white UA/DL and European aircraft. So I'm happy in that. (American West, NorthWest, Old United used to do that...and US Airways still does)

(I do expect a new UA livery within 3-5 years after the merger has been ironed out.)

klypso

Have AA flown any of the re-painted 767-300 into Dublin since they resumed service last week?

Tenger

klypso wrote: »

Have AA flown any of the re-painted 767-300 into Dublin since they resumed service last week?

I would saw its a low possibility at the moment. As of April 7 only 3 inservice B763's have been repainted (out of a total fleet of 58) Obviously as the summer progresses and more get repainted we should see it make an appearance in DUB

donvito99

I believe MAN may already have seen one?

BuffyBot

BuffyBot wrote: »

I did think it would look good on the 77W based on the CGI images, and it really does look great in real life (much more impressive than on the 738's).

I'll get to fly on one in a few weeks, all going to plan. I'm looking forward to seeing it up close.

I should of remembered to update. It looks even better up close, and really, really sharp on the 777-300.

Davidth88

Interestingly The Sunday Times had a review of AA

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/travel/Your_Travel/Tips_and_Advice/article1240667.ece ( subscription based I am afraid )

They were saying they had to paint the aircraft because of the new composites have to be coloured.

Their review was ' mixed '...... ( that's being kind ) .

I have not flown AA , but I have United/USAir/Delta , TBH , I have always found the US airlines terrible, their service could best be described as ' grouchy ' .

Tenger

Davidth88 wrote: »

Interestingly The Sunday Times had a review of AA ........

They were saying they had to paint the aircraft because of the new composites have to be coloured........

They were due a livery change anyway. During bankruptcy is a good time,it makes a break with the past. especially when the staff are taking cuts. AA can then emerge as a 'new refreshed' airline.

The composite obviously were a factor. AA previously operated A300's. These were painted a dull silver grey but never really looked right in the livery.


Having seen the B773 in this livery I do think it looks well. The silver grey is unusual. However the tail still seems a bit in you face.

lord lucan

Taken from Dublin Airports Twitter page,AA93 this morning.

http://ow.ly/i/1RRFf

Tenger

B767-300ER N368AA operated the AA flight yesterday ORD-DUB-ORD.
Awful weather to be greeted with!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48073612@N04/8640208809/in/photostream/

*Not my pic so can't take credit

merisi

I have to say it looks horrid, representing everything I dislike about a lot of contemporary liveries. It's modish and I fear it will date very quickly.

donkey balls

Here she is on 407C today

westdub

Also in on Saturday...I think it looks good.....


N7375A by Lucan Snapper, on Flickr


N7375A by Lucan Snapper, on Flickr

lord lucan

Jury is still out for me. The fuselage looks well but the tail takes a bit of getting used to.

Every time i see it arrive in DUB this tune pops into my head!:pac:

Ilik Urgee

Agree, fuselage is gorgeous, tail is way too busy:(

donkey balls

The jury is still out for me on whether it looks good but the tail does stick out more than the EI/DL/UA etc, There was a Turkish 738 in today with a very mosaic looking hull be very hard to see against a blue sky.

lord lucan

donkey balls wrote: »

The jury is still out for me on whether it looks good but the tail does stick out more than the EI/DL/UA etc, There was a Turkish 738 in today with a very mosaic looking hull be very hard to see against a blue sky.

That was this 738. It's a bit 'busy'.

Tenger

donkey balls wrote: »

.....There was a Turkish 738 in today with a very mosaic looking hull be very hard to see against a blue sky.

The livery is actually a collage of 1000's of TK employee's photos.


Back OT, here is a pic of the new American livery on a B738:

American B738 in new livery by tearbringer, on Flickr

donkey balls

Yep that's the one veru soothing to look at.

Comhrá

Some have mentioned the passing resemblance of AA's new livery to the Amtrack colours:






The new AA livery is , I think, pretty boring and the tail is downright brutal. I find it visually disturbing to say the least.

Bessarion

tippman1 wrote: »

.......

The new AA livery is , I think, pretty boring and the tail is downright brutal. I find it visually disturbing to say the least.

The fuselage I don't mind too much. While a bit boring its still better than all white. The tail however is very "busy". Looking at it I am not sure if the camera is out of focus or am I squinting too hard.
And I wonder how the tail design will hold up over time, will those bright colours fade,will the 3D effect stop making me dizzy? Will I stop getting the urge to stand with my hand over my heart?

brandon_flowers

Saw the new AA livery in the flesh while waiting in T5 last Sunday night and during take-off. It looked OK on the stand because it was a change from BA craft everywhere.

The funny thing is that from a distance and during take-off is it looks very grey rather than grey/white and almost dirty and old. Maybe on a sunny day it would look different but depending on the sun to make something look good is fantasizing a bit much.

Tenger

brandon_flowers wrote: »

......The funny thing is that from a distance and during take-off is it looks very grey rather than grey/white and almost dirty and old. Maybe on a sunny day it would look different but depending on the sun to make something look good is fantasizing a bit much.

Here it is on an overcast Dublin day:

N366AA onstand at DUB by tearbringer, on Flickr