The Japanese low-cost airline ZIPAIR has decided to change the logo on the tails of the aircraft, so as not to be associated with the atrocities of the Russian military in Ukraine.
Airliners now have a large letter Z. This symbol has been used by the Russian army on equipment and uniforms of soldiers as an identification mark for the war in Ukraine since February 24, 2022.
“Some people might think that the airline is supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine when they see the logo without any explanation,” ZIPAIR president Shingo Nishida explained at a press conference at Tokyo airport.
This decision to change the logo is extraordinary for the aviation industry. ZIPAIR began flying in 2020 and the current livery lasted only 2 years. Typically, air carriers can use the chosen style unchanged for decades.
ZIPAIR said it will cover all Z’s on aircraft tails with special striped stickers in its signature colors of green, black, and white as early as June 18. The first airliner will be fully repainted in December 2022, the rest – until the spring of 2023.