A Japanese airline is redesigning the art on the tail fins of its planes amid concerns that it suggests the company supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zipair, a Japanese low-cost carrier, is changing the design on its tail from the letter “Z,” which is the symbol often seen painted on Russian military vehicles and on the uniforms of Russian soldiers in Ukraine. The letter has also become a symbol of Russian solidarity for the war. The company, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, announced that as of June 18, the “Z” logo would be covered by a decal of a pattern of stripes until all the planes in its fleet can be repainted.
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“I think some people might feel that way when they see it without any explanation,” Shingo Nishida, president of Zipair, said at a press conference, revealing that customers had expressed their concerns over the “Z” logo.
A spokesperson for Zipair told CNN the airline has received numerous complaints about the logo and that the company was aware it could be interpreted in a pro-Russia way, prompting the change.
“We can confirm that we have received a number of customer comments regarding their feelings toward the design of the current livery. As a public transportation company, we are aware that the letter in question has been shown over various media channels on a global scale and how the design may be conceived in a negative way,” the spokesperson said. “Although customers acknowledged and understood that our logo was created in 2018, which was before the current situation, they did share their concerns as a way to show support for the airline.”
“Our president is keen to customer feelings and does directly read general customer comments as part of his routine,” the spokesperson added.
A redesign of the airline’s paint scheme had already been in the works to mark the loosening of Japan’s travel restrictions, according to a report, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted a swifter change.
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Since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion, many worldwide companies have rebranded, dropping the Z’s once used to identify them.
Switzerland’s Zurich Insurance dropped its “Z” logo in March, and South Korean tech company Samsung has removed the letter from its smartphones in some markets.
