Emirates unveils new signature livery for all of its aircraft

Well, this was totally unexpected. Emirates has today unveiled new signature livery for its entire fleet. This is the 3rd time the livery has undergone refresh since the airline’s inception.

Livery updated

Emirates’ signature livery has undergone a refresh. The most visible changes include the new tail and wingtip design.

In this latest design, the UAE flag on the Emirates tailfin is much more dynamic and flowing with a 3D effect artwork (see the pictures attached below to compare the old and new livery), and the wingtips have been painted red with the Emirates logo in Arabic calligraphy “popping” out in reverse white.

Passengers onboard with a window view will see the UAE flag colours painted on the wingtips facing the fuselage.

The signature gold “Emirates” word, both in English and Arabic, has been made bolder and 32.5% larger. Also, the website URL – emirates.com – has been dropped while the airline has retained its iconic red branding on the aircraft belly which it introduced in 2005.

Aircraft livery is the most instantly recognisable brand real estate for any airline. It’s a visual representation of our unique identity, something we wear proudly, and display in all the cities we fly to around the world. We’re refreshing our livery to keep it modern, without losing the key elements of our identity such as the UAE flag on our tailfin and the Arabic calligraphy.

said Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates.

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3rd change since inception

This is the 3rd time the Dubai-based airline has updated its signature livery. The original livery unveiled with the airline’s launch in 1985 had its first refresh 14 years later, with the delivery of Emirates’ first Boeing B777-300 at the 1999 Dubai Airshow. Emirates’ original livery in 1985 was designed by UK design company Negus & Negus. All of the airline’s subsequent aircraft colours were created by its inhouse design team.

The first aircraft to sport Emirates’ new livery is an Airbus A380 registered as A6-EOE. The aircraft will be deployed on Flight EK51 to Munich on 17th March 2023, conducting first flight for the airline with the new livery.

The refreshed livery will be gradually applied across the rest of the existing Emirates fleet. A total of 24 aircraft, including 17 Boeing B777-300s, will feature the new livery by the end of 2023. All new aircraft, starting with Airbus A350s arriving August 2024 onwards, will be delivered with this livery only.

Mixed feelings (at least for now)

For an airline like Emirates which has a storied past and rich history, coming up with a new livery is not at all necessary. The current livery is one of my all-time favourites. In a way, it represents what the airline is and where does it come from, with the classic UAE flag on the tail and golden branding on the fuselage.

The updated livery is nice, but it will take some time getting used to it, particularly the 3D effect on the tail. The “3D effect” is not something which we are used to seeing everyday (obviously) but at first glance, it just feels odd. But I am sure it will build up overtime.

The larger “Emirates” written on fuselage looks great. However, personally, I am not a fan of the red-coloured wingtips and the UAE flag in 3D effect in the section of the wingtips facing the fuselage.

As they say, “Change is the only constant”. Emirates has updated its livery after 24 long years and the overall outcome minus some small details look great.

Featured image by Emirates

All the other images by Emirates

What are your thoughts on Emirates’ new livery? Let me know in the comments section below.

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