AI-Indian merger: Patel unveils new logo

New Delhi, May 22: Minister for civil aviation Praful Patel today officially announced that after the merger of Air India (AI) and Indian, the new entity will be known as Air India. The new company will have its registered office in New Delhi and corporate office in Mumbai. ''The office for domestic operations as well as strategic business units will be mostly based in Delhi,'' he told reporters.

''The mascot of the merged airline will continue to be the lovable Maharaja.'' As Air India is a globally and nationally recognised brand name as well as the designated airline in international bilaterals, the AI code being available only to the existing name, it has been decided that the merged entity will continue with the same name, said the minister.

He was flanked by AI chairman and managing director Vasudevan Thulasidas who is tipped to be the first new chief of the merged airline, and Indian's chairman and managing director Vishwapati Trivedi who is likely to be the second-in-command.

Design components of the new logo and livery have been drawn after merging some of the current features of both Air India and Indian.

The logo of new airline is a flying swan with the Konark chakra placed inside it. The flying swan has been morphed from AI's characteristic logo The 'Centaur whereas' the Konark chakra is reminiscent of Indian's logo.

The new logo will feature prominently on the tail of aircraft.

Individually the Konark chakra will also feature on all aircraft engines. The choice of colours namely red for flying swan and orange for Konark chakra are meant to signify vigour and advancement.

The colours also have a strong association with two carriers thereby retaining the earlier imagery of traditional hospitality and service.

While the aircraft will be ivory in colour, the base will retain the red streak of AI. Running parallel to each other will be orange and red speed lines from front door to the rear door, subtly signifying the individual identities merged into one.

The brand name Air India will run across the tail of the aircraft.

UNI