Z sign goes *

Usually associated with the Nazi swastika symbol the Z sign is to be removed by Japan Airlines low-cost subsidiary Zipair.  The Virgin Voyages Z sign remains.

In a press release Shingo Nishida, the airline’s President, felt that changing the tailfin livery “would help Zipair’s passengers to feel less uneasy and more welcomed, knowing that the airline is not pro-Russia”.

The “Z” will be replaced on the airline’s Boeing 787s by a geometric pattern in the carrier’s green, black, grey and white colours.

The change will be actioned in two stages, with aircraft seeing a decal placed over the offending letter in the short-term, followed by Zipair’s fleet receiving a fresh paint job between December 2022 and spring 2023.

Representations to Virgin Voyages for the Z signs on Valiant Lady have fallen on deaf ears. The two long corridors on the passenger cabin decks remain signed as A & Z. Or in seaman’s language A to Z.  Ukrainian crew members have been too discreet to complain.

www.zipair.net/en

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

David Bentley, United Kingdom

@franco mancassola. Yes Franco, I agree with you. There are severe problems facing the world, one of the most acute being that incompetent half-wit who has the Presidency of your country. But the worst of the lot is Russia. I’d no more want my company to be associated with the letter Z (which stands for Za pobedu [“for victory”]) than I would be with a swastika. If you don’t get that I can only assume that you aren’t in business. Were you the Debonair guy? Hm.

franco mancassola, honolulu

The pettiness of this is mind boggling. The world has serious problems and we worry about the alphabeth.

Jean Rich, Wembley

I gather Branson has visited Ukraine. He should take a look at his ship.

geoff Singer, Harrow

Come on Sir Richard. Shake them up!