Quantcast

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

Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Brazilian airline Azul to go 'back to basics' after challenging 2024
Airlines cancel flights as air travel to ‘grind to complete halt’ this week ahead of major strike action in Europe
Dramatic moment American Airlines plane diverted to Rome is escorted by fighter jets after mid-air bomb threat
Jetstar Faces Major Backlash as Nationwide System Outage Causes Travel Chaos, Stranding Passengers and Disrupting Flights Across the Australian Airline Industry
Sudden oil supply outages creating turbulence for airline industry
Southwest's layoffs dent its worker-first culture
Abu Dhabi's long-haul carrier Etihad Airways sees record $476 million profit in 2024
Jet2 warns of profits squeeze from rising costs and late bookings
Southwest bends further to activist shareholder Elliott's demands
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

Lufthansa has announced the introduction of unlimited free chatting on its long-haul flights.

Jun 3, 2025

Emirates and Air China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore an enhanced partnership.

Jun 3, 2025

Air New Zealand is set to expand its fleet with the arrival of two new A321neo aircraft, each covering a distance of 19,342 kilometers from the Airbus facility in Hamburg to Auckland.

Jun 3, 2025

The third daily flight from Dubai to Bahrain, EK835, departed at 0200 hrs and arrived in Bahrain at 0215 hrs.

Jun 3, 2025

Emirates has announced a multi-year partnership with European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), becoming the Premium Partner and Official Airline Partner of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.

Jun 3, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the recipients of its 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Awards.

Jun 2, 2025