Quantcast

United Airlines retires iconic 'Tulip' logo after merger with Continental

Nepal Plane Crash Kills 18 After Takeoff - Airline Ratings
Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating | CNN Business
CrowdStrike Outage Caused 10% Spike in Air Charter
Aircraft Engine Maintenance and Repair to Peak in 2026, Worsening Capacity Shortage for Commercial Aviation, Says Bain & Company
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation announces NLRB-scheduled vote to remove union officials
Families recount the horror of MH17 ten years on - Airline Ratings
777-9 Enters Certification Flight Testing - AVweb
Kompass Kapital Sets New Course with Airshare Investment
SATS, SIA Engineering Company and Changi Airport Group to Trial Autonomous Buses at Changi Airport
Qatar Airways Landing An A350 In Hamburg Makes A Powerful Statement - Airline Ratings
EBAA Backs Dassault's Sustainability Lawsuit against European Commission | AIN
American Airlines Now Lets You Earn And Spend Miles On Concerts And Events
Boeing agrees to plead guilty to defrauding the FAA but escapes punishment sought by victims’ families | CNN Business
IATA partners with Aviation Sustainability Forum to tackle cabin waste
Qatar Airways In Talks To Buy 20% Of Virgin Australia - Airline Ratings
Boeing Will Buy Spirit AeroSystems For $4.7 Billion In Stock & Airbus Enters $559 Million Agreement For Its Parts
Bombardier Global Jet Production Stops in Toronto as Union Workers Strike | AIN
Justice Department To Offer Boeing a Plea Deal Related to Max Crashes
Plane diverted to Brazil after turbulence injures 30
As air taxi services make progress in U.S., no timeline set for liftoff over L.A. traffic
United Airlines retires iconic 'Tulip' logo after merger with Continental
Policy
Webp received 597420496251037
Scott Kirby Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines. | United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, a legacy carrier known for its iconic branding, has retired its 'Tulip' logo. Over the years, United Airlines has gone through several rebranding phases, each reflecting changes in the airline's strategy and identity.

In its early days, United's logo featured a silhouetted map of the United States before transitioning to a shield design. This shield underwent various modifications over time, eventually giving way to the 'spike' logo with blue and black lettering. During these years, United also experimented with different aircraft liveries, including the "Friend Ship" livery in the 1960s.

The most notable change came in the 1970s when United hired graphic designer Saul Bass to create a new brand identity. After two years of research and development by Bass and Associates, United unveiled its new logo in 1974. The design consisted of two overlapping U-shapes slanted at a 68-degree angle featuring red, blue, and white colors. This logo became known as the 'Tulip.'

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

With this new branding came significant changes to the aircraft livery. Vibrant stripes were added along the fuselage as part of a popular paint scheme trend called cheatlines. The updated branding also included modernizing the wordmark with "a modern square-like sans-serif in all-caps," according to Logo Histories.

United retained this logo for decades until another rebranding exercise in 1993 introduced a dark blue and gray fuselage known as the 'Battleship' livery while keeping a smaller Tulip design. In 2004, British design company Pentagram further evolved the branding with larger cropped versions of the Tulip.

In 2010, following a merger with Continental Airlines that created one of the world's largest airlines at that time, United adopted Continental's globe logo instead of retaining its own Tulip symbol. Former CEO Oscar Munoz stated: “As we improve and elevate our customer experience...this modernized design enhances...the very best of United's image.”

Other airlines have similarly evolved their logos over time; American Airlines replaced its eagle emblem between two As in 2013 while Emirates revealed an updated livery in 2023 featuring bolder gold lettering across aircraft bodies alongside dynamic UAE flag designs on tailfins among other elements.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

London Heathrow, recognized as Europe's busiest airport, will soon experience an increase in its flight offerings by Oman Air.

Sep 2, 2025

Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport will commence safety and airfield improvement projects on Runway 12R-30L in two distinct phases throughout 2025.

Aug 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines is adjusting its service between Atlanta and Anchorage, extending flights beyond the summer travel season to a year-round offering.

May 15, 2025

In December 2022, Southwest Airlines faced a major crisis as operational challenges led to the cancellation of 16,900 flights, affecting nearly two million passengers during a peak travel period.

Apr 19, 2025

Harrison Ford, an acclaimed actor known for roles such as Han Solo in "Star Wars" and Indiana Jones, is also a noted aviation enthusiast.

Apr 19, 2025

Iberia Airlines has confirmed a notable shift in its flight schedule connecting Madrid and Dallas/Fort Worth, introducing its first overnight service from Europe to the US.

Apr 19, 2025