Brands

Ranked: Top 10 Most Valuable Airline Brands Since 2013

Published

1 year ago

April 18, 2023

Julie R. Peasley

Creator Program Ambassador

Article/Editing:

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Top 10 Most Valuable Airline Brands Since 2013

The global airline industry was experiencing strong growth before the pandemic wiped out years of momentum.

Global travel went from 1.9 billion scheduled passengers per year in 2004 to 4.7 billion in 2019, before dropping back down to 1.8 billion in 2020. And while the recovery story has begun, the values of the top airline brands have been significantly impacted.

This graphic from Julie R. Peasley shows the most valuable airline brands from 2013 to 2022, using data from Brand Finance. Each airline brand is also categorized by home continent.

Most Valuable Airlines From 2013‒2022

After two back-to-back years of suffered declines, brand values for the top airlines changed course and rose in 2022.

American companies have long dominated the airline space when categorized by brand value. American Airlines, Delta, United, and Southwest have represented four of the top five since 2017, with their brands worth a collective value of $24.1 billion in 2022.

Company	Brand Value ($B)	Region
Delta	$7.3	North America
American Airlines	$6.3	North America
United Airlines	$5.5	North America
Emirates	$5.0	Middle East
Southwest Airlines	$5.0	North America
Air Canada	$2.5	North America
Air China	$2.4	Asia
Lufthansa	$2.3	Europe
China southern	$2.3	Asia
ANA	$2.3	Asia

First-place Delta in particular has remained in either the top spot or second place since 2014. On the other hand, second-place American Airlines was not even in the top 10 in 2013, but rapidly climbed past companies like United, Lufthansa, and British Airways.

Emirates is also a serious competitor and has won numerous awards for customer service. The UAE-based airliner even held the most valuable title for four consecutive years from 2013 to 2016.

Will Airline Brands Recover?

While views amongst some airline executives are a lot more optimistic now, it’s fair to say the pandemic resulted in some considerable industry turmoil.

After all, in 2020 industry revenues declined by 54% from $838 billion in 2019.

As a result, you’ll notice each brand is below their historic high values. But as travel is projected to make a full comeback, recovery and higher brand values might be on the horizon.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.

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Misc

The Evolution of U.S. Beer Logos

In this graphic, we analyze the evolution of popular U.S. beer logos like Budweiser, Coors Light, Bud Light, and more.

Published

5 days ago

May 4, 2024

Marcus Lu

The Evolution of U.S. Beer Logos

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Despite selling a popular product, beer companies have to be creative to stand out in a competitive market.

In this graphic, we analyze the evolution of some U.S. beer logos based on various sources. We chose brands based on a mixture of criteria, including popularity (based on YouGov surveys), availability of logo assets, and those with interesting developments.

Bud Light Back to the ’80s

Despite recent backlash and calls for a boycott after sending a commemorative can to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Bud Light remains one of America’s best-selling beers.

The brand of light beer, owned by the Anheuser-Busch company, has switched from its more circular logo with italic letters adopted in the 1990s back to the Bud Light badge of the 1980s. It is composed of heavy uppercase lettering, written in two levels in a shade of blue with the inscription placed on a solid white background and enclosed in a thin rectangular frame.

Miller Lite Goes Old School

After following a similar approach to Bud Light’s branding throughout the 2000s, Miller Lite decided to undergo a major rebranding in 2014.

The company returned to its 1970s roots, once again combining a white can with its original blue, gold, and red logo. The redesign was largely considered a success, given that Miller Lite sales immediately increased following the change.

A Symbol of American Brewing

The oldest brand on our U.S. beer list, the Budweiser logo, has undergone more than 15 changes over the years.

The design of two connected triangles represents a red bow tie, as a symbol of American brewing.

The colors of the Budweiser logo include a vibrant red, which helps the logo stand out and be easily recognizable from a distance. Studies also suggest that the color red stimulates appetite. Meanwhile, the white inscription symbolizes purity and cleanliness.

Curious to learn more about the beer market? Check out this graphic about global beer consumption.