British Airways has been blown away by gale-force hot air since it
started repainting the tails of its planes with a variety of
multicultural designs. Patriotic Brits, up in arms over what they
saw as one more step toward the dismantling of English tradition,
told off BA officials, but good.
The tail art, designed to make the carrier appear to be more in
step with the rest of the world, include a pottery pattern from
Poland, A Scottish plaid and a Polish paper cut.
As a result of the public outcry (former Prime Minister Lady
Margaret Thatcher reportedly called the paint jobs "awful"), BA has
abandoned the new designs in favor of an updated rendering of the
Union Jack. But as a paean to its international customers, who say
they like the new look (not to mention a bit of bottom-line
consideration), BA will leave the 20 planes that have already been
multiculturalized the way they are, thus saving the airline $20
Million. Not a bad way out of a sticky situation.