By Tom Little.
Tripoli, 20 December:
Afriqiyah airlines marked a break from its past last night as it launched its new logo at the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli.
The new logo was designed by Saeed Al-Barouni, manager of catering and in-flight services for the airline, and was selected from more than 60 other entries by Afriqiyah’s directors.
Barouni’s design is based on the markings of the turtle dove, managers explained to a reception attended by senior political and military figures, as well as the airline’s management.
Afriqiyah’s previous logo had been associated with Qaddafi, as it showed the date of the Sirte Declaration, 9 September 1999, when the Sirte Declaration that founded the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was signed.
Qaddafi saw the declaration as one of his proudest achievements, and had the date emblazoned on the fuselage of all Afriqiyah aircraft when the airline was established in 2001. [/restrict]
