Airline logos are more than just design, they are shorthand for an airline’s identity, reputation, and promise to customers. A good logo communicates heritage and quality instantly, even before you step onboard. A bad one cheapens the brand. Today, I want to share my 10 favorite current airline logos.

My 10 Favorite Airline Logos

For purposes of this post, I’ll stick to current logos, not historic logos (hence,no United tulip in this list).

10. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines has used this logo since it split from Malaysia Airlines in 1972. And yes, the logo does look like it is from the 1970s, but I also think it is a symbol of quality and should not be modified. The bird is inspired by a keris, a traditional Southeast Asian dagger.

9. Emirates

The calligraphic rendering of the word “Emirates” in Arabic is iconic and timeless.

8. Iran Air

I always thought this was a winged seahorse like Air France, but it is a Huma bird, a mythical, immortal bird from Persian legends, also known as the Bird of Paradise, Homā, or Bird of Fortune. It is said to fly eternally without ever alighting on earth, and its shadow bestows good fortune, happiness, and even kingship upon those it touches.

7. Qantas

The iconic Qantas kangaroo needs no “Qantas” beside it…it is internationally recognized as the symbol of Qantas and needs no update.

6. SWISS

Simple, effective, and oh so Swiss, I love this simple logo which is a reflection of quality and national pride.

5. Aeroflot

The Soviet Union may have dissolved, but the hammer and sickle are still a prominent part of the Aeroflot Russian Airlines logo. It’s a distinct logo hearkening back to when Aeroflot was the largest airline in the world. I hope to fly Aeroflot again one day once the war in Ukraine is over.

4. JAL

This is a great case study:  JAL updated its logo, it backfired, and JAL reintroduced its classic logo above. As I always say when it comes to logos, leave well enough alone…

3. SAS

What I love about the SAS logo is that it is timeless…and I’m grateful SAS has not introduced an ugly new logo so many carriers have. Note the picture at the top of this story is from the 1960s, yet the SAS logo remains unchanged.

2. Air France

Air France adopted the seahorse logo of its predecessor Air Orient, known as the hippocampe ailé, but it has become a symbol of quality and is seamlessly woven into the Air France brand.

1. Lufthansa

Designed by Otto Firle in 1918, the crane logo has not changed much over the last century. It’s iconic and while Lufthansa has struggled in recent years with a unified strategy for growth, I (very subjectively, I concede) still love flying Lufthansa…very, very much. The logo just makes me smile from ear to ear, unlike any other airline logo.

What are your favorite airline logos?