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Hideous and horrendous was a common reaction from both staff and customers, "Airborne graffiti" remarked a well travelled businessman, "the sort of thing a hooligan with an arsenal of aerosols would be proud of".
Many travellers remarked that if the new image was considered necessary it would have been more acceptable if it could have been standardized. "All the different designs will make it difficult to identify BA amongst the rest of the gaudy creations carried by some of the tinpot airlines from the third world". Air traffic controllers reported difficulties in identifying the aircraft during ground movements.
.A British Airways Executive Club Member comments, "..the money could be better spent on updating the fleet...BA expect me to pay full price to cross the Atlantic in quarter century old planes...I refuse to fly in them...".
"The many variations of design detract from brand awareness", said a spokesman from a rival airline, "There has to be a single, striking image".
Even more upsetting was the airlines apparent attempt to disown their British heritage by omitting the crown and union flag from the livery . Several travellers expressed both amusement and amazement when hearing that one of the prominent graphics designers involved has been awarded an honour in the Queens birthdays list. The words British Airways still appears in 2 meter high letters on the forward fuselage.
Chief executive Bob Ayling is reported as admitting he suffers from colour blindness.
Predictably supporters of the new livery included advertising executives, professional designers and psychologists.
