What Was The Controversy Surrounding British Airways' Ethnic Liveries All About?

British Airways replaced its old livery in 1997 with very colourful, "ethnic" themes on aircraft tail-fins representing different countries and cultures. Despite the fact that there were up to nine UK themes, including the "Chelsea Rose," and the stylised Union Jack, many British customers were not impressed with BA's new design and some felt that it took away from the national character of the airline.

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously expressed her opinion upon seeing the new ethnic tail-fins by observing that "we fly the British flag, not these awful things."

By 1999, British Airways was already pondering how to get out of the ethnic livery controversy and the airline's management announced that it would review the policy. In 2001, BA ultimately decided to bring an end to its ethnic themes and it announced that all tailfins would be repainted with a stylised version of the Union flag.