Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion are perhaps six of some of the finest British novels of all time and they were all written by Jane Austen, although not one was published under her own name during her lifetime! It is, I think fair to say that the true success of Austen's work and her place amount the writing elite has only been achieved many years after her death. In tribute to this fine creative genius the popular and well respected European airline, Norweigan has put her on the tail of one of its latest Boeing 787 aircraft.
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The Norwegian Boeing 787 featuring tail fin hero Jane Austen Photo: Atle Straume |
Yes, Jane Austen has taken to the skies, at least her portrait has as it now adorns the tail fin of a Norwegian Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The aircraft now operates long-haul routes from London Gatwick on a network that includes 12 nonstop routes to the USA as well as flights to Singapore and Buenos Aires.
Norwegian has a pedigree of using its aircraft tail fins to celebrate iconic figues who have in some ways pushed the boundaries of what was expected, accepted or even believed possible at the time. Since the airlines first aircraft took to the sky's the tails have been adorned with such people who inspire others, who challenge the perceived norms or who have enriched our lives.
To reflect Norwegian’s rapid growth in the UK, where it now flies 5.8 million UK passengers each year to more than 50 destinations, the airline has launched a series of UK tail fin heroes. Jane Austen has become Norwegian’s eighth UK tail fin hero, the others are author Roald Dahl, footballer Bobby Moore, pioneering pilot Amy Johnson, rock legend Freddie Mercury, aviation maverick Sir Freddie Laker, poet Robert Burns and explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.
“As Norwegian continues its expansion in the UK, our ‘tail fin heroes’ offer us a perfect chance to pay tribute to some of the greatest Britons of all time. Jane Austen has inspired generations and it is a huge honour to have one of the greatest authors of all time adorn our aircraft.” Said, Thomas Ramdahl, Norwegian’s Chief Commercial Officer.
