A picture might tell a thousand words, but an advert tells an entire story. On the 50th anniversary of its founding, Key.Aero presents a series of advertisements which reveal Airbus’ road to success
From the very beginning Airbus – as an unknown and unproved European manufacturer – was fighting a battle of perception.
The company has been responsible for some particularly quirky advertising campaigns over the last 50 years. The advertisements tell the story of the company’s slow initial growth but then meteoric rise to the top.
From a fledgeling European start-up to the world’s largest commercial aircraft manufacturer, Airbus had a lot of persuading to do when it was initially formed. Although made up of well-respected brands, the new outfit and its product – which was untried and tested – was a hard sell in the beginning.
Aerospace industry advertising archive Aviation Ancestry has collated more than 120 adverts published by Airbus over the last 50 years. Key.Aero presents 33 of the best examples that encapsulate the story of Airbus’ rise to the top.
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
November 7, 1968 - One of Airbus' first recorded advertisements.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
October 17, 1968 - The airframer begins by promoting the jet's fuel economy, comfort and quietness. Aviation AncestrySeptember 3, 1970 - There were a couple of variations of this ad which promotes the jet's capacity of 250. Aviation AncestryNovember 26, 1970 - This advert focuses on Airbus' manufacturing partners in an attempt to give the programme some credibility.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
September 6, 1973 - The concept of a twin-engine widebody was new and so Airbus had to convince customers of the economic benefits by comparing the A300 to current-day trijets.Aviation AncestryMay 1973 - The Airbus A300 was finally available.Aviation AncestrySeptember 26, 1973 - Airbus Industrie was new and unfamiliar to airline customers.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
February 20, 1975 - The 1973 oil crisis worked in Airbus' favour as airlines began looking for more fuel-efficient aircraft.Aviation AncestryJuly 3, 1975 - An order from Korean Air Lines in 1975 came as a big boost to the programme.Aviation AncestryJanuary 17, 1976 - As more orders came in, Airbus used these in its marketing efforts to add credibility to the programme.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
February 14, 1976 - At the time of the A300's launch, there was no other twin-engine widebody on the market.Aviation AncestryMarch 13, 1976 - Airbus resorted to some very direct marketing strategies which compared the A300 against legacy options like the DC-10.Aviation AncestryApril 10, 1976 - The competition had began to take note.Aviation AncestryMay 8, 1976 - Airbus took immense pride in an order from Lufthansa.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
November 6, 1976 - According to Airbus, Bankers appreciated the A300's economics.Aviation AncestryOctober 8, 1977 - Who wouldn't be persuaded by this?Aviation AncestryJanuary 21, 1978 - Airbus continuously played the A300 against its trijet competitors.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
February 18, 1978 - According to Airbus, airlines all over the world were calling it the economic miracle.Aviation AncestryMarch 11, 1978 - The quietness of the A300 was a key feature which was heavily promoted.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
April 22, 1978 - The breakthrough order from Eastern Air Lines in 1978 was crucial to the programme's success.Aviation AncestryJuly 8, 1978 - Four A300s were loaned to the US carrier on a six-month trial. Aviation AncestrySeptember 2, 1978 - The A310 was a shorter addition to the A300 family of aircraft.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
February 24, 1979 - The A310 have the same width fuselage as the A300.Aviation AncestryApril 19, 1980 - Airbus proved that their way of doing things worked. Aviation AncestrySeptember 27, 1980 - Following a very diffucult period in the 1970, Airbus began to take-off in the 1980s.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
October 17, 1981 - During the 1980s, airlines arrived in force to order the A300.Aviation AncestryApril 3, 1982 - By the start the 80s, the A320 had arrived on the scene.Aviation AncestryMay 15, 1982 - The Airbus A320 would later become the manufacturer's most successful aircraft. Aviation AncestryFebruary 13, 1988 - The sidestick would become a trademark Airbus feature.Aviation Ancestry
For more exciting content celebrating the 50th anniversary of Airbus Industrie's founding, click here: https://www.key.aero/airbus-50
June 1989 - By the late 1980s, Airbus' portfolio had grown to five aircraft types.Aviation AncestryFebruary 1990 - The A321 was seven metres longer than the A320.Aviation AncestryJune 1990 - The glass cockpit was another feature Airbus pioneered.Aviation Ancestry
