For decades she was considered an iconic, powerful emblem for an ambitious startup that turned into one of the strongest airlines in the world.
Now the Flying Lady that has graced the nose of countless airplanes in Virgin Atlantic’s fleet is about to be retired—and replaced with a modern look that more appropriately reflects a changing societal culture.
The British-based airline has announced that the Flying Lady proudly carrying England’s Union Jack flag will be replaced by five more ethnically diverse figures, including a black man, black woman and gay man.
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All still wear the red leotard that the Flying Lady has worn for years, although the gay man sports the rainbow colors of the gay emblem flag on his thigh.
“The saying goes ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’ and that has never been truer than the aviation industry’s glamorous image in the past,” Nikki Humphrey, senior vice president of people at Virgin Atlantic, told the United Kingdom newspaper The Telegraph. “By introducing our new Flying Icons, I hope it encourages people from all backgrounds to feel at home flying with us but also working with us.”
The caricature of the Flying Lady was admittedly based on former pinup girls from the 1930s, ‘40s and ’50s. Virgin Atlantic has made big efforts this year to be more inclusive in its own workforce. In fact, by utilizing men among its new emblems, VA said it is the first time in aviation history that male figures have been used to represent an airline.
Traditionally, airplanes, boats and automobiles have more often been referred to as female.
Virgin Atlantic also has told its female flight attendants that they no longer have to wear makeup during flights if they so choose and that the company is hoping to reach a 50-50 balance among male-to-female employees by 2022. That also includes reaching a goal of at least 12 percent of its workforce being black, Asian or minorities.
The new emblems will be introduced later this year on four of VA’s new Airbus A350-1000 planes.
