Livery of the week: Gulf Air

Bahrain's Gulf Air introduced its distinctive golden livery in 2003. The branding was created by the consulting and design company Landor Associates, which is also behind Etihad's and Garuda's newest liveries. Landor opted to keep Gulf Air’s long established symbol (and the unofficial symbol of the Middle East region) - the golden falcon, incorporating its power and beauty into all visual expressions. The old falcon symbol was extensively redrawn to occupy a large part of the aircraft’s tail. The colour scheme and design also allows for a more durable surface, reducing the need for the paint to be touched up as often, and thus saving the airline money on maintenance.