THE DOWN SIDE OF UTOPIA!!!
Examples of British Airways trendy new fleet logo were viewed with dismay by staff and unions who had to bear the brunt of cut-backs and job losses. Several staff agreed that the money could be better spent reducing operational pressures which resulted in a number of well publicized safety incidents.
Hideous and horrendous was a common reaction from both staff and customers, "Airborne graffiti" remarked a well travelled businessman, "the sort of thing a hooligan with an arsenal of aerosols would be proud of".
Many travellers remarked that if the new image was considered necessary it would have been more acceptable if it could have been standardized. Another commuter commented, "All the different designs will make it difficult to identify BA amongst the rest of the gaudy creations carried by some of the tinpot airlines from the third world". Apparently air traffic controllers reported difficulties in identifying the aircraft during ground movements.
A British Airways Executive Club Member commented, "..the money could be better spent on updating the fleet...BA expect me to pay full price to cross the Atlantic in quarter century old planes...I refuse to fly in them...".
"The many variations of design detract from brand awareness", said a spokesman from a rival airline, (Guess Who!) "There has to be a single, striking image".
Even more upsetting so some thought was the airlines apparent attempt to disown their British heritage by omitting the crown and union flag from the livery. Several travellers expressed both amusement and amazement when hearing that one of the prominent graphics designers involved has been awarded an honour in the
Fly the Flag.
Until project Utopia "Fly the Flag" was a popular publicity slogan used by British Airways.
Richard Branson took full advantage and the flag logo appeared on the Virgin Atlantic fleet. Richard Branson remarked that since deciding to carry the union flag logo on his Virgin Atlantic fleet he had won a massive military contract from the Ministry of Defence, he considered that this may have been awarded following his loyalty to the flag.
BA executives appeared to be less than sure of the effect of their new venture. President Lord King declared it as "Exciting" then added "the public will judge".
Chief executive Bob Ayling was reported as admitting he suffers from colour blindness of all things! Not very helpful!
Predictably supporters of the new livery included advertising executives, professional designers and psychologists.
