Airbus has hit a bit of turbulence lately, including an EU court case involving low-interest loans (in which Airbus welcomed the WTO's mixed ruling), and a public spat with Air France over a 2009 crash investigation.

While rival Bombardier is seeing a slow return to growth, Airbus is finding increased demand for its A320 model, and more interest in China. The CEO of Airbus, meanwhile, is in Beijing this week to strengthen its business there, including talking up the company's corporate jets with their new livery (above) — or as the aircraft-maker puts it, "new branding, colours and names for its corporate jets, reflecting aircraft improvements, the company’s culture of innovation and family commonality."

The company is also spurring innovation through academic crowdsourcing.Continue reading...

United and Continental went public with their merger today, launching a page on their single website (United.com) to detail the first major public-facing merged branding, in addition to talking up the changes on their new Facebook page (facebook.com/unitedairlines) and Twitter feed (@united).

Highlights unveiled today for what's now the biggest airline in the world include newly aligned check-in and boarding processes, the linking of the airlines' MileagePlus and OnePass loyalty programs, new branding (including blue carpets and signage) premiering at Chicago's O'Hare airport, a new Premier Access VIP service for "elite" travelers, news on the in-flight menu being introduced this summer (including "new custom coffee, and the beer selection on domestic flights will feature Heineken, Budweiser and Miller Lite" — but no Corona, as Continental offered), and details on self-service check-ins.

One lowlight on what should have been a big day: reinstating the flight numbers of the downed flights on 9/11.Continue reading...

The Big Mac Daddy of fast food is getting a different look — so different that regular customers may not recognize it anymore.

By 2015, some 14,000 McDonald's locations in the United States will get a miraculous McMakeover, turning them into modern, contemporary eateries with a homey inviting appearance.

Out with the old — the dominant yellows and reds, the garish arch, the fiberglass tables and the antiseptic interior. In with the new — more subtle signage, muted colors, just the suggestion of an arch, wooden tables, leather club chairs arranged in conversation areas — even flat-screen televisions and Wi-Fi.

If this sounds suspiciously like a Starbucksian transition, it should.Continue reading...

Remember what the Washington Bullets used to look like?

Brand new logos and uniforms were revealed for the Wizards that seem awfully familiar to their old uniforms. Since changing their name from the Wizards to the Bullets in 1997, the colors certainly did not reflect the NBA team.

With a patriotic new red, white and blue color scheme, the nation's capital is certainly represented by the right colors. What's also new is the logo marks.Continue reading...

Sir Richard Branson is no longer flying the Virgin Blue skies in Australia. As creative director Hans Hulsbosch explains above, this week sees the launch of Virgin Australia, a new airline brand that replaces Virgin Blue, V Australia and Pacific Blue airlines.

Consistent with the color scheme of the Virgin America line, the move is designed to take business travelers away from rival Qantas with the new name and look and feel. But all isn't entirely sunny for Virgin down under.

Branson admitted that this branding was long overdue, while Hulsbosch has defended the rebrand against charges that it's "bland."Continue reading...

Hey, remember Chatroulette, the razor scooter of the Internet? Yeah, those were good times, until it became a little too good of a time.

It seems the site that went from a wacky fun way to waste 30 minutes to the preeminent place to see another human's genitals is making drastic moves to "solidify its position as world's largest video social network." To do this, it needs your help.Continue reading...

Can a daily deal website be classically retro and digitally au courant? 

Yes, says Hopscout, as it launches with an enticing employment opportunity: they're seeking five new editors (moms and dads) to join their team and become a Stay-at-Home Millionaire.

The site for classic children’s products features one item each day at a discount of up to 70%. Each daily deal lasts 24 hours or until inventory sells out.Continue reading...

After running TV and print advertising mocking its rival Vodacom's recent rebranding in South Africa as "a lick of paint," the mobile carrier Cell C was ordered by the country's Advertising Standards Authority to pull its TV advertising (see another spot below) and tweak its print ads.Continue reading...