The famous French "barcode" era is coming to a close after 33 years in service on the tails of the Air France fleet. Aerocontact.com, a French aviation website, reports that the Paris-based airline will unveil a new livery for its aircraft (French) in the next few days. The redesign coincides with the airline's 75th anniversary this year and there's speculation that the first A380 (seen here) will be among the first to carry the new look. The last time Air France changed its livery, it was introducing the Concorde.
Never to be?
on January 11, 2009 10:58 AM | Reply
Since the shot of the first AF A380 already shows the old colors applied to at least the tail of the aircraft, do you think they'd repaint it in order to display the new livery?
I'd think that, if AF were to introduce the new livery with their first A380 delivery, they'd have notified Airbus well in advance to apply the new shiny coat to the aircraft (and asked them to keep it well-hidden ;).
on January 13, 2009 8:02 AM | Reply
Singapore has a different levery from the one used in the early assembly days.
It's not an issue really to repaint the whole aircraft, as it has to be done anyway for the fuselage.
Moreover, the final choice was probably not certain at the time the tail was preped for assembly.
on January 31, 2009 11:24 AM | Reply
Qantas first A380 had the old livery painted on its tail. Then it was repainted when the new livery was unveiled...
By the way, it would have been keen to give your source for this drawing (actually, me) rather than linking to Flight website...
Thanks.
Steph.
www.konnek-t.com
on February 11, 2009 1:16 PM | Reply
Well, here we are : Air France unveiled its "new" identity. The change in the livery are not that big, it is just a little bit more modern, but still "elegant" and ... french! ;o)
Here what could be the final look of the first A380 that should make its first flight tomorrow, february 12th.
http://www.konnek-t.com/Info/Images/graph/A380/Profile-A380-AirFranceMSN033-2.jpg