The commercial aviation sector, known for its modern advancements, also embraces nostalgia through retro liveries. European airlines have been particularly active in adopting these vintage designs, offering a glimpse into aviation history.
Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8 is one such example. The airline operates scheduled passenger flights with this model and has painted one of its aircraft, registered as D-ABYT, in a retro livery reminiscent of its early 747s from the 1970s. This plane has been flying since March 2015, with a brief storage period during the pandemic.
British Airways celebrated its centenary in 2019 by introducing several retro liveries. While most were on Boeing 747s that are now retired, an Airbus A319-100 registered as G-EUPJ remains active. It features a design inspired by British European Airways from the mid-20th century.