British Airways Liveries 1974-2015
Below is a list of the liveries worn by BA aircraft throughout the carrier's history from its formation in 1974 by the merger of BEA, BOAC and the British Air Services airlines (Northeast and Cambrian Airways). Main dates are years aircraft were actually painted in the colours. Dates in brackets are for years aircraft wore the schemes (thanks to 400Scalehangar member 'Hawaii' for those).
Post-Merger Hybrids
For many years aircraft of the component airlines wore their old colours with British Airways titles crudely applied. Sometimes the tail was painted into the initial BA scheme also but the fuselage kept its original colours.
For many years aircraft of the component airlines wore their old colours with British Airways titles crudely applied. Sometimes the tail was painted into the initial BA scheme also but the fuselage kept its original colours.
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1973-1980: British Airways Negus (1974-1981)
Designed by Negus & Negus. White crown with dark blue belly and blue speedbird logo near cockpit. New tail design representing stylised quarter Union Jack flag with red tail top. Even though BA didn't come into being until 1974 the livery was unveiled in 1973.
Designed by Negus & Negus. White crown with dark blue belly and blue speedbird logo near cockpit. New tail design representing stylised quarter Union Jack flag with red tail top. Even though BA didn't come into being until 1974 the livery was unveiled in 1973.
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1980-1984: 'British' Negus (1980-1985)
Same as original Negus scheme but with larger 'British' titles minus the Airways. Note: Concorde always wore a modified Negus, and later Landor scheme, due to heat issues at high speed. |
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1984: Silver Negus
In late 1984 BA experimented with a silver topped version of the Negus scheme on at least one 737 G-BKYA: |
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1984-1997: Landor (1984-2001)
Designed by Landor Associates and unveiled in December 1984. Similar to Negus but white roof replaced with Pearl Grey, blue belly replaced with Midnight Blue. Speedbird replaced with Brilliant Red speedwing running along lower fuselage. Red tail top replaced by blue with British Airways' coat of arms. Title font also changed and capitalised. |
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1994-1997: Landor Regionals
During this period Boeing 737-200s based at Birmingham and Manchester gained regional titling.
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1997-1999: Utopia / World Tails
Unveiled in June 1997 the basic template was by UK agency Newell & Sorrell with ethnic tail designs and special schemes from global artists applied to the tail. Basic livery incorporated a new 'Speedmarque' on forward fuselage. Bright white upper/middle fuselage and lighter blue underside. |
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1999-2000: Union Flag / Chatham Royal Dockyard
One of the 1997 Utopia tails, known also as 'Chatham Dockyard' and initially applied only to Concorde, it became the standard BA tail livery after the phased withdrawal of all other Utopia tails. Design based upon a stylised Union flag as flown by English naval commander Lord Nelson who's fleet was based at the historic Chatham Royal Dockyard. Scheme depicted in the left two of the bottom four photos:
One of the 1997 Utopia tails, known also as 'Chatham Dockyard' and initially applied only to Concorde, it became the standard BA tail livery after the phased withdrawal of all other Utopia tails. Design based upon a stylised Union flag as flown by English naval commander Lord Nelson who's fleet was based at the historic Chatham Royal Dockyard. Scheme depicted in the left two of the bottom four photos:
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2000-2011: Updated Union Flag
Tail flag enlarged and raised higher on the tail. United Kingdom titling removed from rear of fuselage. Scheme depicted in the right two of the above four photos:
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2011-2014: To Fly To Serve Union Flag New 'To Fly To Serve' crest added next to titles. Scheme depicted in the left two of the below four photos: 2014-Present: Brilliant White To Fly To Serve Since summer 2014 aircraft repainted have been given a brighter shade of white on the main fuselage. Scheme depicted in the right two of the below four photos: |
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