Why a Greek airline had to abandon its original logo after public backlash

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When Sky Express launched in 2005, its branding drew inspiration from the historical flag of the Cretan State. The design, intended to honor a milestone in Cretan unification, instead triggered widespread public outcry. The company eventually replaced the logo to resolve the confusion and controversy surrounding its historical symbolism.

Established in early 2005 by former Olympic Airlines executives Miltiadis Tsagkarakis and George Mavrantonakis, Sky Express began operations with a diverse service portfolio including air taxi, medical emergency, and sightseeing flights. Headquartered at Heraklion International Airport, the airline has grown significantly since its inception, reaching a milestone of 1 million annual passengers by 2018. Today, the carrier serves 35 domestic and 18 international destinations.

The airline’s initial visual identity was rooted in the flag of the Cretan State, a semi-independent entity under Ottoman rule. The flag featured a white cross with a red canton containing a white star—representing Ottoman sovereignty—and blue squares symbolizing the Cretan people. While the company maintained that the design celebrated the eventual unification of Crete with the Kingdom of Greece, the public, particularly Cretans, found the imagery problematic. The logo was eventually retired to avoid further friction, and the airline has since moved toward a modern aesthetic, notably introducing a new livery for its Airbus A320neo fleet.

Beyond its branding challenges, the airline has navigated the operational realities of regional aviation. Its history includes several notable incidents, such as a 2009 landing gear collapse involving a BAe Jetstream 31. Investigations revealed the failure was linked to unreported hard landings that caused structural fractures. Other incidents, including a 2015 runway excursion in Rhodes and a 2019 engine explosion during a flight to Karpathos, resulted in no injuries to passengers or crew. These events underscore the rigorous safety oversight required in the industry, as the airline continues to expand its fleet and international reach.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a golden era of Greek aviation ended in liquidation
• Brussels blocked Aegean's takeover of Olympic, then approved it two years later
• How a Turkish low-cost carrier navigated global crises to become a regional aviation giant
• How Athens International Airport transformed from a delayed project into a global aviation hub
• From Local Startups to National Carriers: The Endurance of Airline Branding
• How an urban folklore archive became the internet's primary arbiter of truth
• How a frontier trading post became a vital gateway to the American northern plains
• The white plumage of the snowy owl is a masterpiece of evolutionary adaptation
• Why the Sinhala script evolved into a beautiful system of rounded, curlicue letters
• The ancient, heat-resistant stone that shaped human civilization
• The media giant that shaped how millions of Americans see the news
• Why would rational people voluntarily surrender their freedom to a state?

More in Peoples & civilisations · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics