Aircraft

Air France has become the latest carrier to repaint one of its aircraft in a retro livery, decorating this Airbus A320 to commemorate the airline's 75th anniversary.

This particular A320 is a 19-year old aircraft, F-GFKJ, which was given 540kg of new paint to reproduce the 1946 colour scheme. It will carry the livery for two years, and is due to make its first scheduled flight today from Paris to Barcelona.

Air France emerged as a unified French carrier in October 1933, from the merger of four main operators, among them Société Générale de Transport Aérien - a company which dated back to 1919.

© Air France

© French Frogs Aviation Pictures

© Flight Collection

Its retro-livery reflects that carried by aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3, DC-4, Vickers Viscount and de Havilland Comet. The scheme includes the sea-horse logo, derived from Air Orient, one of the predecessor carriers on which Air France is based.

Air France says: "The aircraft has been baptised 'Pays de Roissy', as a reference to the association aiming to expand the economic develop of 110 communes situated around Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport."

Finnair, Lufthansa, US Airways, Iberia, SAS are among those which have similarly painted aircraft in retro schemes.

• Link: Video of Air France painting its A320 with the anniversary colours

• Link: Air France 75th anniversary history site