CANADIAN AIRLINES: adds "Proud Wings"

A use of identity, by a leader

New: Canadian Airlines logo and livery (airline jargon for paint job)

Launched: ...via a January 13, 1999 "fly-in," Beijing to Vancouver

Story in brief:
This new bird, which they appropriately call "Proud Wings," expresses a relatively routine and probably overdue product upgrade. Per marketing leader Barbara Amster, it's "an important additional step in our continued pursuit of the business travel market, increased revenues and new investment."

Credits:
C.E.O. - Kevin Benson
Identity design - Landor Associates

First Impressions:
The Canada goose greatly strengthens this brand's identity, neatly tying it both to its home country and its category. Looks great on a plane, too. And note the ">" chevron, softer but still there, keeping a little of the company's heritage from the railroad era.

Correspondent Neil Laing notes that the ">" works equally well as an Anglo "a" or a French "e," which makes this all the more elegant a design solution.