Air Florida was an American low-cost carrier based at Miami International Airport that operated under its own brand from 1972 to 1984. The airline was formed in 1971 and began operations in September 1972. Its visual identity is remembered for the distinctive “AF” logo on the tail of its aircraft, which appeared on orange, blue and green planes across the Miami airport from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s. [1]
Design and History
The Air Florida mark was a stylized or “fanciful” representation of the letters “AF,” as documented in a U.S. trademark registration filed by Air Florida Airlines Inc. [2] The logo appeared on the tail of the airline’s aircraft, where it became a defining element of the livery. [1]
The airline’s color scheme evolved during its operating years. In the early 1970s, around 1972 to 1973, the airline’s colors were orange and blue. A few years later, the palette changed to green and blue, which remained the airline’s colors for the duration of its existence. [3] The final colors worn on the fleet in the early 1980s were blue and green. [4]
Air Florida ceased operations in July 1984. [5] By 1985, the Air Florida name and logo were described in the Miami News as “a thing of the past.” [6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The “AF” monogram served as the airline’s primary identifying mark, applied prominently on the tail of its aircraft. [1] The trademark registration describes the mark only as a fanciful representation of the letters “AF,” without documenting additional symbolic meaning. [2]
Enthusiasts have noted the visual appeal of the design. One airliners.net forum user described the “AF” swirl on the tail as “a pretty amazing logo for the time they operated (early 1980s).” [7]
Typography and Design
The Air Florida wordmark appeared in blue lettering on aircraft and promotional materials. An embroidered logo patch from the airline’s later years shows “Air Florida” in blue over a white embroidered rectangle, with a blue and green stripe below. [8] No designer or agency attribution for the logo has been documented in available sources.
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