Originally Posted by
Justapax1
The Lufthansa crane is probably the most recognisable symbol of an airline. Some people, like Mr Mac, regret that it is now an albino version, having for over 50 years been blue on a golden circle.
The Hippocampe Ailé, the symbol of Air France, doesn't feature on the outside of their aircraft, but it's everywhere on the menus, the light fittings, and the walls and bulkheads of the aircraft.
Aeroflot retains the winged hammer-and-sickle of Soviet days, they decided that it was so well associated with the airline that a minor detail like the fall of Communism wasn't enough reason to abandon it.
British Airways adopted the Speedbird in 1932, and abandoned it it 1984. It was as recognisable as the symbols of the other airlines abovementioned, but now only features in the callsign of BA aircraft. Why did they ever abandon it? It was as much a symbol of the airline as the red London bus is of London.
Other airline symbools have fallen by the wayside. Air Rhodesia's 'twiggy bird' went with the end of Rhodesia. South African Airways' springbok was too associated with apartheid and had to go (although it's still the symbol of their Rugby teams, both men's and women's). Pan Am's globe only now appears on the sides of freight cars on US railroads, they make a few bob out of royalties from film companies who want to use the logo in films about Pan Am's heyday.
Any other symbols you'd like to comment about? Qantas's flying kangaroo? Air New Zealand's koru (since 1973)? Aer Lingus's trefoil?
LOT Polish airlines 'Crane' was designed back in 1929 and the original design is still in use on the current fleet...may be the longest unaltered design?
https://www.lot.com/us/en/explore/about-lot/lot-logo