Conducting Research
Initiating my research, I started off with a secondary source of research by taking a look at YouTube, which enables me to access informational videos about my chosen project of starting an airline business. Whilst navigating through the YouTube website, I decided on undertaking some research on a video titled ‘How to Start an Airline’ created by a channel called ‘Wendover Productions’. This is the source for the video:
Productions, W. (2021). How to Start an Airline. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjiH3mpxyrQ [Accessed 16 Feb. 2024].
The first chapter of the video is about a business model selection.
The narrator starts off by explaining how for a new company to have success in this industry, they need to do certain things better than their competition such as: being cheaper, faster service or being more convenient. Of course, these are only a few examples, but this is a strong point with a clear message, to stand out from other airlines and build an identity. This is a key aspect of accomplishing targets within an airline business, and I will certainly be highlighting this throughout my project.
Another point which the narrator makes in this video, is that a large problem you can encounter when starting an airline business is great competition. The fact that almost all of the major full-service network carriers, as they are called in the aviation industry, such as United Airlines, British Airways and Singapore Airlines have existed since the early days commercial flying and when commercial aviation started to boom, so did the first ever airlines creating a toughened bond to break between them.
An additional fact mentioned by the creator of the video, is that no airline was created in the current century in the United States with only 1 being found in Europe, that being Wizz Air being founded in 2003. This further reinforces the fact that it is no easy feat to craft an airline and compete in the commercial aviation industry. Below are a few of the major European and American airlines
Airlines from Europe:
KLM or Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij is the official flag carrier for the Netherlands. This Dutch airline which was founded on 7 October 1919. This airline is an official flag carrier for the Netherlands and is headquartered in Amstelveen with around 35,488 employees. KLM is also a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group and has the reputation for being the oldest operating airline in the world.
British Airways is the flag official flag carrier of the United Kingdom. They were initially first founded on the 25th August 1909 as Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited however ceased operations in 1921 and therefore the airline was founded again under the name British Airways. This airline has also merged with Iberia, Spain's flag carrier, to form the International Airlines Group.
Lufthansa is a German airline created on the 6th of January 1953 and is the flag carrier for Germany. Lufthansa owns many different airlines such as Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings. Combining this airline's subsidiary puts its revenue in second place in Europe.
Air France was established on 8th of February 1919 and is headquartered in Tremblay-en-France. This airline is a founding member of SkyTeam, a major airline alliance, and serves passengers as well as cargo.
Airlines from U.S.A:
Delta Air Lines is a major airline in the United States and the country's oldest operating airline. It was founded on March 2 1925 as Huff-Daland which was a company that supplied planes to the US Army and went from a dusting company to a founding element for Delta Air Lines. They currently have around 90,000 employees and is also a SkyTeam member.
American Airlines is another great in size airline in the United States which is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and founded on April 15 1926. This airline can be classed as the biggest in the world in terms of people transported based on passengers carried and revenue passenger mile. American Airlines currently operate to 350 destinations and have over 100,000 employees.
United Airlines is an American airline which was founded on April 6 1926 and its headquarters can be found at the Willis Tower in Chicago. They also have over 100,000 employees and have routes in international networks and and extensive domestic routes..
Southwest Airlines is an airline from the United States which operates on a low-cost basis. It is a more affordable airline with the number of employees at around 74,000. It was founded on March 9 1967 with the initial name being Air Southwest Co but transitioned to a simpler version of this name to Southwest Co.
Next, the second chapter of the video talks about financing an airline. The narrator talks about how global commercial airlines go through dramatic cycles of profit and loss which all depend on oil prices and external economic conditions. However, even in ideal working conditions profit margins can still be small.
This shows global commercial airline operating margins which are very minute and tough to manage as can be seen in the graph above. This make the airline business a very risky environment to operate in with very small room for error in all aspects related the airline such as the mangaing or aircraft or the consumer happiness. This gave me new knowledge I did not have before which is how hardly profitable such business is, but if done correctly it can be a fascinating operation.
In the third chapter of ‘How to Start an Airline’, the information shifts to the official documentations required for airline businesses to operate an aircraft for commercial purposes. This documentation can vary from country to country with the example I am about to explain applying for the United Kingdom’s air operators which differs from the example used in the video for the United States.
This is the source:
CAA (2023). Civil Aviation Authority. [online] www.caa.co.uk. Available at: https://www.caa.co.uk/.
In the United Kingdom, an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) is a crucial document issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). It is mandatory for any organisation or individual wishing to operate commercial flights or provide air services for hire and reward within the UK. Obtaining an AOC involves meeting stringent regulatory requirements set forth by the CAA to ensure the safety, security, and efficiency of air transportation.
CAA Certificate for the United Kingdom
CAA Certificate for the United Kingdom Example
An AOC or Air Operator Certificate is specialised document which provides an airline the foundation for ASSI (Air Safety Support International) to manage the ventures of an air operator. ASSI is an organisation which was formed the command of the United Kingdom's Department for Transport with the principal goal being to fulfil a close-knit system for the regulation of civil aviation safety in the UK Overseas Territories.
There are 5 phases in total that an aviation company such as an airline has to complete and progress through in order to acquire an Air Operator Certificate. Phase 1 is the pre-application process phase which is responsible for determining if an airline is eligible to be awarded an AOC as well as if that company can provide proof of resources and capabilities to manage their operations safely and efficiently. This phase can also decide whether an organisation totally understands requirements they must adjoin, which elucidates the ASSI's expectations. If everything in this phase is comfortably connected, applicants will receive certain forms that need completing which would then be transferred to ASSI for examination.
Next, if an applicant does have a favourable outcome in phase 1 it will begin phase 2, the Formal Application phase. This is where an applicant for an AOC will stand in need of submitting a whole application pack made up of a cover letter as well as forms all documentation necessary by a company who holds an AOC such as maintenance and operational manuals. For an applicant to be formally accepted further in the evolution process, they need to send everything mentioned like manuals and important documents in the application package.
The third stage is phase 3, the Documentation Evaluation phase. In this stage, ASSI will give an assessment and review of all the documentation submitted in the application package. This is an operation that will most likely consume some time but will consist of constant communication between both parties involved, the ASSI and an applicant, until all the declarations are verified as being allowed to apply. In addition to this phase, applicant are advised to have their minds on preparation for the inspection procedure which takes place in the next stride.
Phase 4 is the Demonstration and Inspection phase and involves maintenance control and aviation security inspections which is done for the purpose of an applicant to demonstrate that they possess the ability to abide by demands as well as the ability to operate an airline company with aeroplanes full of passengers to the quality that ASSI desire.
Finally, phase 5 is the Certification Phase in which Air Safety Support International set the seal on the fact that an applicant has wholly encountered the criteria set and are competent of sustaining an Air Operator Certificate keeping compliance with any new rules or specifications being issued. ASSI also ensures that safety is present by routinely concluding inspections of an airline with the specific inspectors being Flight Operations Instructors and Airworthiness Surveyors.
How to Start an Airline by Simple Flying
Here is the source for this article:
Boon, T. (2022). How To Start An Airline: The Complete Series. [online] Simple Flying. Available at: https://simpleflying.com/how-to-start-an-airline-directory/ [Accessed 18 Feb. 2024].
This guide is complete in highlighting how to start an airline business as well as every single detail that needs to be carefully refined and complete. The article talks about finances, having a business plan, interest structure as well as certification to make sure that every aspect of the airline runs smoothly and problems are dealt with correctly. This article also gives information about the source of aeroplanes and how to plan the right blueprint into operating the aircraft acquired. Overall I believe this guide has majorly contributed to my knowledge of the airline business and will be useful for future work throughout this project.
Colour Theory
I would like to express my thoughts on colour theory and conduct research on this topic. I will be exploring the theory and practice itself as well as the shade combinations that other airlines are actively using in their logos, marketing and general identity. This will equip me with a great grasp on competitors and how they operate within the hue aspect of running an airline and very likely inspiring to potential ideas for my own airline.
Starting off, colour theory is the study of how a mix of different colours are brought together which can affect our perceptions as well feelings. Colour theory is a fundamentally large tool for designers and artists to make the right decision in selecting which colours they would like to combine in order to convey the exact message or emotion they want people to feel or see. The colour theory was first begun by Sir Isaac Newton who crafted the wheel of colour in the year 1666. Newton apprehended colours as human perceptions categorised three groups of colours systematically. Number one is primary colours such as red, blue and yellow. The second one is called secondary colours and are made up of a combination of primary colours such as blue, yellow and red. Lastly the third group is tertiary and this group consists of blends of both primary and secondary colours. Moving swiftly on, the next topic of colour theory persists of hue, value and saturation. The term hue is used for the attribute of colour that differentiates them into red, green and blue as well as any other colour found on the colour wheel. Next, the value constitutes the respective lightness, darkness and grayscale of a colour which is pivotal for creating a depth and contrast in visual art. Last but not least, saturation. Saturation, which can also be referred to as the intensity or chroma of a colour, connects to the vividness of a colour which can range from being a fully saturated vibrant colour to a completely desaturated colour leading to grayness.
Moving swiftly on, the next topic of colour theory persists of hue, value and saturation. The term hue is used for the attribute of colour that differentiates them into red, green and blue as well as any other colour found on the colour wheel. Next, the value constitutes the respective lightness, darkness and grayscale of a colour which is pivotal for creating a depth and contrast in visual art. Last but not least, saturation. Saturation, which can also be referred to as the intensity or chroma of a colour, connects to the vividness of a colour which can range
from being a fully saturated vibrant colour to a completely desaturated colour leading to grayness. A picture of these three categories of colours can be found below amongst a colour wheel. When talking about graphic design, the colour theory needs to be grasped by the creator in order to craft a piece of artwork that connects to the viewer’s opinion and visual emotions for example, a website UX designer needs to create a well-thought out website as to not put off a potential customer to a goods site such as Amazon, or an informative entertainment site like IGN.
Following this, using a colour scheme and colour temperature is also another fundamental part of the internal organs of colour theory as well as an artist or designer’s crucial tool for connecting to a human emotion. For example, when working with designs on a screen, the primary colours become red, green and blue, which is very commonly and more popularly known as RGB. As you fabricate a design from scratch images and other elements should be placed strategically as to optimise a user’s participation in interfaces with good usability by the colours being rightly managed. All four of these colour scheme examples are listed visually below. Some colour schemes include monochromatic, analogous, complementary and split-complementary. Monochromatic relates to taking hue and generating components from different shades and tints, which is key to differentiating colours from one another as well feelings from one another. Next, there is analogous which collects three colours all beside one another on the colour wheel and creating a variant to this by mixing them together with a colour like white that would then form a high-key analogous scheme. Then comes complementary. This is used by using pairs of colours that are the complete opposite of one another, for example red and green, in order to not only create a contrast, but to maximise it. And another colour scheme, would in fact be split-complementary. So, similar to complementary in the sense that you have to choose colours once more on the colour wheel systematically, split-complementary consists of accumulating colours from either side of a complementary pair leading to a softening in contrast.
Last but not least within the colour theory categories, arrives warm and cool colours. This proven concept is very easily identifiable by many people and comprised of creating colours with a neutral label with a warm or cool grey which would totally depend on the needs of a business or user. Warm and cool colours most certainly affect people’s sentiments by visual intake and definitely also an enormous factor in doing so. Examples of this would be glancing at the colour yellow compared to the colour grey. The colour of yellow has connotations of happiness, joy, optimism and enthusiasm whereas the colour grey being almost the antithesis by being related to boredom, uncertainty and compromise. All-in-all using colours that are warmer or cooler in the correct situations takes a skill and needs to be carefully but creatively organised to meet the expectations of linking one object to another meticulously as the basis of this is to associate objects to their respective colours.
I now want to analyse the use of colour by successful airlines to differentiate between, look at the combinations they have used and gather some knowledge about their techniques.
The first airline I want to talk about is Turkish Airlines. Their branding and logo show what the airline is about as well as its cultural history, applying a small range of shades in a smart way. They use the colour red relating to energy, passion, and strength quite often in their branding to symbolise the country of Turkey as well their culture. Additionally, they have used red because it means warmth, love, and being friendly which is another message which the company want to highlight to their customers. The airline wants to show their country's personality and make people feel welcome by using such tints in their branding and logo.
Turkish Airlines' branding uses white like a blank paper for the strong red logo and other pictures to look nice and be easy to know.
Also, Turkish Airlines puts in blue colours into their brand, which makes everything look deeper and more balanced. Blue means trust, being steady, and feeling calm, which fits well with flying and feeling comfortable. Using different shades of blue makes passengers trust them more and shows the airline is serious about giving a safe and happy flight. By being careful with how they use red, white, and blue together, Turkish Airlines tells people what they care about and leaves a good impression on people all over the world.
The second airline I would like to discuss is British Airways. The British Airways' logo as well as identity represent a great use of colour theory and highlights their extensive history as well as their experience in the airline business.
White is another important colour in British Airways' look. It works together with blue, making the logo and other brand parts easy to read. White also stands for cleanliness and purity, important qualities for an airline where cleanliness is very important. Mixing blue and white makes a good contrast that looks classy and modern, showing how British Airways mixes old traditions with new ideas.
Besides blue and white, British Airways adds other colours to their branding to give different feelings and messages. Sometimes they use touches of red to add energy and excitement to their ads or to show important info. Red is linked with passion and energy, adding a lively touch to the brand while still going well with the blue and white theme. In the end, British Airways' use of colors in their logo and branding not only looks good but also tells a story about the airline's values, professionalism, and care for travellers.
Along with blue, red is important in Delta's style. Red adds excitement and energy to the logo and other brand parts. It stands for action, passion, and energy, reflecting Delta's modern and customer-focused approach. Adding red to Delta's branding makes it more eye-catching and helps highlight important things, like the winged symbol that's well-known. Mixing blue and red creates a cool contrast that's powerful and easy to remember, making Delta stand out in the busy airline world.
These colours are what create the Delta identity and give it life. This can make a good impression of the message that the airline wants to send passengers which is that they follow their values and are committed to delivering great experiences to their consumers. Delta have managed to achieve a design which is easily distinguishable not only in the distance but also from afar, which very greatly due to their great contrast of blue and red as well as the wordmark spacing between letters and a clear logomark.
***This information was partly assisted by ChatGPT. I take part responsibility for this text.*** Underlined text is AI.
OpenAi (2022). ChatGPT . [online] chatgpt.com. Available at: https://chatgpt.com [Accessed 29 Apr. 2024].
Typography
Source:
Prokhorov, N. (2019). What Is Typography? A Deep Dive Into All Terms And Rules. [online] Shillington Design Blog. Available at: https://blog.shillingtoneducation.com/what-is-typography/ [Accessed 28 Feb. 2024].
Typography plays a crucial role in the design of airline logos, as it helps convey the brand's identity, values, and personality. Each airline selects fonts that reflect its unique positioning in the market and appeal to its target audience. For instance, some airlines opt for sleek and modern typefaces to communicate a sense of innovation and sophistication, while others may choose more traditional fonts to evoke a feeling of reliability and trustworthiness. The typography used in airline logos is often carefully crafted to ensure readability and recognition across various mediums, including aircraft livery, digital platforms, and printed materials.
Typography is something involved in everyone’s lives whether it’s working on or with text and fonts or simply visualising it on billboards or bus stations. Typography is everything ranging from line spacing on the back of a crisps wrapper to the numbers representing the price of an item even stretching as far out as the way street signs look. Typography design consists of creating an art with the way messages are arranged so that they appear pleasing and appealing to the human eye. The two ways that typography is created is by using serif and sans serif, with serif meaning adding thick and thin strokes to letters as well slight projections finishing off a letter, and sans serif being the opposite consisting of even width strokes of letters and no curves or lines coming off the end or start of the letters.
Typography design consists of creating an art with the way messages are arranged so that they appear pleasing and appealing to the human eye. The two ways that typography is created is by using serif and sans serif, with serif meaning adding thick and thin strokes to letters as well slight projections finishing off a letter, and sans serif being the opposite consisting of even width strokes of letters and no curves or lines coming off the end or start of the letters.
Further exploring airline logo typography, I will now inspect the 3-airline business I have used previously in my research of colour theory, Turkish Airlines, British Airways and Delta Air Lines.
In the first example I ought to inspect Turkish Airlines and their logo typography. The typography of the Turkish Airlines logo is a defining aspect of its visual identity, embodying the airline's heritage, modernity, and commitment to excellence. The logo features a custom-designed wordmark that seamlessly integrates the airline's name with a stylized emblem, known as the "Turkish Airlines globe." The typography used in the wordmark is characterized by its bold and elegant sans-serif letterforms, which exude a sense of strength, sophistication, and reliability. The smooth curves and balanced proportions of the typeface enhance readability and lend a timeless quality to the logo, ensuring its enduring appeal across diverse applications.
One notable feature of the Turkish Airlines typography is the subtle nod to Turkish calligraphy, a traditional art form that holds cultural significance in Turkey. The curvature of the letterforms and the fluidity of the strokes pay homage to the grace and beauty of Ottoman script, while still maintaining a contemporary aesthetic that resonates with a global audience. This fusion of traditional and modern elements reflects Turkish Airlines' role as a bridge between East and West, and its commitment to celebrating Turkish heritage while embracing innovation and progress.
Next, the British Airways logo is a classic and represent a timeless fashion which can distinguished from any place and anywhere in the world. It consists of distinct features with its wordmark containing the serif font making it professional and elegant in its appearance. This type of typography is a reflection of the way the company conducts its operations and the way it treats its customers. Having these letterforms neatly made, enables a balance and enhancement in design elements as well as readability.
***This information was partly assisted by ChatGPT. I take part responsibility for this text.*** Underlined text is AI.
OpenAi (2022). ChatGPT . [online] chatgpt.com. Available at: https://chatgpt.com [Accessed 29 Apr. 2024].
Last but not least, the Delta Air Lines logo features the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet, delta. In this logo, the typography used is consistent in the wordmark by featuring the sans-serif font throughout the logo's expansion. Having this constancy present, creates a visual harmony as well as fortifies the Delta brand identity. Because Delta have combined their widget and wordmark, this could symbolise a devotion to connecting people with places all around the world, all whilst displaying strong professionalism and reliability.
Additionally, this logo was also designed with attention to detail as optimal legibility when designing this logo was a clear priority. This effect was due to spacing between letters, kerning, which is responsible for the ease of readability and visual balance and can be utilised even at larger distances. Having such style of typography is a thoughtful approach which contributes to the logo's ability to create a good impression on potential customers and also relays the airline's name in manner that can be linked with a commitment to the delivery of expert travel.
For this project, I have chosen to create an airline representing the country of Romania. This geographical element means that I can gain inspiration for the creation of my logo by using the colours of the Romanian flag which are blue, yellow and red. I can combine these colours with different design elements to give life to my logo which is what British Airways and Turkish Airlines have done as seen in the examples previously given. Turkish Airlines primarily use the red and white colours for their logo with black for the font, however the main rounded logo use the exact same colours which can be found on the Turkish flag being red as the foundation, and white being used for the stand out component. This is also applied to the British Airways logo with the principle colours of the United Kingdom; red, blue and white. However, the British Airways logo uses white in a more indirect way because of many backgrounds having white as default in general such as an aeroplane body or a website.
The hexadecimals of the Romanian flag are blue: #002B7F, yellow: #FCD116 and red: #CE1126. These are the colours that I will use to aid my logo creation process in order to fully represent the country's identity.
One approach I could take in producing my logo which would relate to the country could be to include the a part of the Romanian coat of arms such as the golden Aquila, or golden eagle and embed that with the tricolour.
supertravelr (2022). The Most Beautiful Towns in Romania. [online] The Most Beautiful Towns in Romania. Available at: https://supertravelr.com/en/trip/romania/the-10-most-beautiful-towns-in-romania-C5ACEC0260/ [Accessed 14 Apr. 2024].
supertravelr (2016). The 12 Most Beautiful Spots in Romania. [online] The 12 Most Beautiful Spots in Romania. Available at: https://supertravelr.com/en/trip/romania/the-12-most-beautiful-spots-in-romania-D6770B029D/ [Accessed 25 Apr. 2024].
Romania is a country that offers a great value of folk art such as colourful paintings or ornamented clothing, which have managed to survive the test of time and the modernisation of the country. This art is mostly characterised by abstract or geometric designs which represent plants or animals. When talking about the colour schemes of these designs, they can vary from region to region of the country as well as the way they are stylised and this is done to associate with particular regions. Another element of Romanian folk art is the decoration of Easter eggs and glass paintings. The ornamenting of Easter eggs is a religious tradition in Orthodox Christianity and decorations can differ from religious icons, a simple colouring of the egg in various colours or beautiful patterns.
News, H. (2022). Cum se vopsesc ouăle de Paște. Vopsea din comerț sau ingrediente naturale? [online] www.hotnews.ro. Available at: https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-magazin-25509040-cum-vopsesc-ouale-paste-vopsea-din-comert-sau-ingrediente-naturale.htm [Accessed 28 Apr. 2024].
Wikipedia (2013). File:Ouale de parti.jpg - Wikipedia. [online] commons.wikimedia.org. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ouale_de_parti.jpg [Accessed 28 Apr. 2024].
Romania is a country located in Eastern Europe and covers an area of 238,397 km2 making it the 12th largest country in Europe just behind the United Kingdom. It is classed as a Balkan country corresponding with the Balkan peninsula with its neighbours being Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria and Serbia. One immense feature of Romania is the fact that it is home to more than half of the Carpathian mountain range with stretches across Central and Eastern Europe. The Carpathian mountains contains spruce forests where animals such as brown bears, wolves and lynxes live throughout. Romania also has the largest population of brown bears in Europe besides Russia.
A popular fact about the country is that it is also the home to Transylvania and Dracula castle. Transylvania is a cultural and historical region in which can be found in central Romania. The region has an amazing scenery of the Carpathian landscape and is also domicile to iconic medieval cities like Alba Iulia and Sibiu and also contains some of Romania's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Transylvania is heavily associated with the Dracula story because of Vlad The Impaler or Vlad Dracula as he executed people by impaling them and was characterised as a drinker of blood. Bran Castle is also the inspiration for Dracula castle and is now regarded as Dracula's castle which can be found in the Transylvanian Alps or Southern Carpathian Mountains.
Wikipedia (2024). Geography of Romania. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Romania#/media/File:Romania_location_map_Topographic.png [Accessed 28 Apr. 2024].
Cannizzaro, L. (2020). Bran Castle and the Legend of Count Dracula. [online] Archeotravelers.com. Available at: https://www.archeotravelers.com/en/2020/10/31/bran-castle-and-the-legend-of-count-dracula/.
Ghosh, D. (2021). Carpathian Mountains. [online] WorldAtlas. Available at: https://www.worldatlas.com/mountains/carpathian-mountains.html [Accessed 28 Apr. 2024].
Moving on, I now want to touch on airline marketing and statistics surrounding this subject. Starting off, targeted marketing strategies play a crucial role in for airlines as it is a great way to gain traffic to their companies. This traffic can come from SEO or search engine optimisation which enhances a website's content relevance and configuration to popularise the website link in order to make its pages easier to find on the internet. Potential customers can of course also come from traditional printed media as well as social media and all of these strategies combine to create a substantial plan to acquire people's interest and trust. Having specific aviation-targeted marketing is vital to gain the correct audience as well as obtain good results in a very competitive industry.
Search engine optimisation (SEO) involves increasing a website's visibility, which encompasses areas such as structure, design, and technical features like website speed. Customising an SEO strategy, can have exceptional results by boosting lead conversion, turning a lead into a customer. An example that is found in the article I am researching, explains how using popular terms like 'flights from Gatwick to Edinburgh', which is searched 3200 times globally and 2400 times in the UK, can potentially help an airline gain an extra 500 users per month.
Another element of digital marketing, is paid advertising. Being able to make a solid connection with a possible consumer at the right moment such as when booking a flight for example, can be a huge advantage in gaining a customer as well as making a good form of marketing in general. One factor that plays into this is pay per clicks or (PPC) platforms like Google or Facebook ads. The reason this is important is because unlike other companies or brands in different industries, platforms like Google ads will provide a more accelerated method for successful results. An example of this would be a new flight being added for an airline (Paris to Los Angeles for instance) will majorly benefit from PPC marketing because these new destinations will quickly gain attention which would be harder to accomplish if an airline was SEO (search engine optimisation) dependant.
The next subject within digital marketing is one of the most dominant when talking about advertising, social media. Advertising through social media can not only help airlines obtain consumer support but also can be a voice for said consumers to give feedback about their experiences. Therefore, this directly allows airlines to engage with their customers and opens up the opportunities of building customer loyalty and opens up the identity of the company to a greater audience. Social media can also be a tool for airlines to offer updates to their clients about any delays, cancelled flights or any potential disruption.
Following this, email marketing is a further technique that many airlines and companies in general utilise for marketing. Sending disciplined emails containing targeted content lets customers know about new flight deals or offers which in return will assist in the connection between an airline and a client creating a familiarity between the two. Companies such as airlines can also use data gathered in past experiences to analyse a loyal client's behaviour and give that client specifically fabricated content that can aid in pushing a customer to advance further into the purchasing journey of a flight.
Lastly, there are the conventional ways of marketing such as print advertising, television & and radio and billboards. Print advertising consists of promoting a company in magazines or newspapers which is a great plan of action to gather recognition from people who are not majorly into technology or old fashioned. This method of advertising is mostly effective with an older target audience as they spend more time reading newspapers or finding out offers through physical copies of text.
The second traditional marketing strategy is the use of billboards. Billboards can be classed as an uninterrupted marketing because of their extensive visibility and grand appearance to onlookers who could be intrigued and take the next step to get a flight booked. This type of advertisement can also be very beneficial because of the various positions that a billboard can be placed in leading to potential customers as people might see an airline's billboard every morning going to work on the motorway. A billboard could also be placed in city centres where it is usually very busy and can attract many eyes.
Lastly, television and radio is still to this day a grand method to enlarge an airline's consumer reach as well as the overall brand awareness. These advertisements can include amusing and attention grabbing catchphrases or speech which can be easily noticeable especially in larger crowds or when songs get changed on the radio. These advertisements are also interchangeable as they can consist of the same speech, however, the television advert will also consist of visuals further adding to the power of this marketing technique. Additionally, a television and radio advert can also be publicised on social media generating an even greater advantage when it comes to customer pull.
Heathcote, A. (2024). Digital marketing in aviation: The importance of marketing for airlines. [online] Adido Digital. Available at: https://www.adido-digital.co.uk/blog/digital-marketing-in-the-airline-aviation-industry/ [Accessed 8 May 2024].
Instagram messages and emails:
To WizzAir:
I found these books at Waterstones and they aided me in seeing fascinating visuals and graphics from the past and gave me a glimpse into what marketing was like back in the day. I found these books useful as I could see different designs from different periods and how much space they conveyed, whether they were more minimalist or more busy with their design elements. The designs resemble a period of transformation in the graphic design marketing industry which was very intriguing to see. These designs could influence my production process in work in some aspects. The most modern of these marketing campaigns belongs to British Airways and it is an example which I could possibly utilise as they have made a strong connection between their represented nation Britain, as well as a sport tradition.
One interesting fact about the BOAC or British Overseas Airways Corporation posters, is that they were the campaigns of British Airways predecessor. BOAC ceased operations on the 31st March 1974 and merged with British European Airways, Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines to form the airline we know today as British Airways. A common theme from the dated BOAC marketing, was that many consisted of linking and representing a specific destination's culture which can be found in the examples I have given with the Rome and South America advertisements. Although these pieces of marketing from BOAC are a thing of the past, I still believe that an important promotion element, which can be incredibly useful today, is to connect an advert to the country specified by applying a cultural aspect such as traditional clothing or historical buildings found in said country.
I also took some pictures of some Air Canada and Virgin Atlantic airline work which I found interesting. I found a book in my college library about marketing and discovered that it also contained some airline marketing with one airline in particular being featured, Air Canada. In the book I found a decent value of marketing campaigns created by Air Canada and within all of them, I found one common aspect. They all seem to characterise the use of animals more specifically birds, ranging from pelicans to ducks and then to flamingos. The birds are all used in stylish fashion with additional graphics or visuals present to back them up and create a truly intriguing portrait. Air Canada have used the birds and their setting to symbolise a mood and pleasant feelings such as in one example 'True comfort. Executive class.' in the top right corner of the first page I photographed showing a swan relaxing in some grass whilst soaking in the sun, making a relation between that of a holiday on a beach where you would usually enjoy the sun and warm weather, as well as also describing their passenger experience by sending out the message that executive class offers a truly gratifying experience. This type of marketing can be a clever and playful way of marketing an airline, which I am greatly fond of, and is an inspiration which I will definitely take into account for my future designs.
The next book I discovered, similar to the one consisting of marketing campaign from numerous companies, was about the graphic design elements of companies. Swiftly flowing through the pages, I came across a Virgin Atlantic infographic style of information which consisted of designs for Virgin Atlantic such as upper-class, economy and premium economy package as well as a Virgin Atlantic aeroplane flying through the sky mockup. This page was really useful as it described why such design aspects are so significant even if its small features like creating a specific detailed graphic for every package you have to offer, but also in aiding me acknowledge a quality method in which I could represent my final pieces of design work in the latter stages of my project.
Surveys:
I conducted a survey on which ROAIR logo people from my class preferred most and here were the results. Option 1, which is also my most preferred logo, was voted 50% which I wasn't really surprised about as I thought it represented the theme of aviation the most. Option 2 is a logo similar to the first option in terms of typeface, however I adjusted the logomark into a different design to create for a more minimalistic style. This option was voted for the second most which wasn't that much of a surprise to me once again, which I is mostly due to the fact that the logos are similar in style . The result for option 2 also suggested that the changes I made on the logomark, were not as well received with the people who responded meaning they were greater fans of the first option's design scheme. Lastly, option 3 consisted of the lowest votes which could have been in part because it was different from the other two logos and people couldn't see the link between an aviation style within the logo, which I would believe to be half wrong if that was to be true because I think the logotype is very suitable for an airline, however I do also feel that the logomark could have been altered for a better appearance.