Why British Airways’ New Campaign Rips Up the Advertising Rulebook
Skift Take
Key Points
- British Airways' new ad campaign breaks traditional marketing norms by excluding slogans, websites, and calls to action.
- The campaign uses imagery that captures the emotions of passengers looking out of airplane windows.
- The initiative is part of British Airways' broader effort to revamp its operations with a $8.9 billion investment.
Summary
British Airways has launched a groundbreaking ad campaign that eschews traditional marketing elements like slogans, websites, and calls to action. Instead, the campaign features cropped images designed to capture the emotions of passengers looking out of airplane windows. Developed with Uncommon Creative Studio, the campaign aims to leverage British Airways' brand recognition to convey its message subtly. This comes as the airline invests $8.9 billion to enhance its operations and customer experience, following criticisms of underinvestment and outsourcing.
Is British Airways’ new ad campaign a masterclass or a missed opportunity? It’s a question that’s had the industry talking over the Easter weekend.
In recent days, the company’s latest advertisements have been popping up all over the UK, and they break almost every marketing convention.
There’s no slogan, no website, no call to action. There isn’t a QR code for curious minds to learn more. In fact, the name of the airline is barely visible.
At first glance, it looks like the outdoor billboards have the wrong-sized advertisements. An overly cropped image suggests there must be more. A printing error perhaps? Not so.
According to the airline, the campaign is designed to “capture the wonder on customers’ faces when they look out of an aircraft window and onto the world from 35,000 feet.”
The idea is that passengers usually take photos from their seats out of the plane window. In an innovative twist, the camera is reversed to highlight the travelers’ emotions as they look towards their destination. It’s in stark contrast to the serene air-to-air blue sky photography so well-worn in other airline commercials.
imagine a world where ads can actually look this good and be effective while NOT being covered in CTAs or flashy headlines
— Taylor Peterson 💫 (@spacecasetay) March 28, 2024
👏 bravo @uncommon_studio @British_Airways https://t.co/J5dc3VbFyo
A total of 11 images make up the ‘Windows’ campaign - all of which rely on the airline’s established brand recognition to tell the story. Six British Airways staff are among those to feature in the subtle concept.
The project was developed alongside Uncommon Creative Studio - an agency known for its quirky campaigns.
Nils Leonard, Uncommon co-founder, drew parallels between advertising and publishing sectors in explaining the strategy: “Only truly iconic brands can say less. The magazine you notice most is the one with the least on the cover, the same is true of posters.”
Rebuilding A Damaged Brand
The promotion comes at a critical time for the airline.
British Airways says it is spending £7 billion ($8.9 billion) over the next two years to overhaul its operation and enhance the passenger experience. It follows allegations that underinvestment and outsourcing have left the UK flag carrier on the back foot.
Sean Doyle, British Airways Chairman and CEO, previously said the investment program would “revolutionize our business.”
The award for the brand with the most disconnect between the actual experience vs their advertising should go to….BA.
— Rafat Ali, Media Operator & Dad (@rafat) March 29, 2024
Their creatives and execution are always really good, brilliant even…and then your experience booking, flying them is always…meh to terrible. https://t.co/CdVtEcuEjC
Media buying agency MG OMD worked with the airline to identify and secure 500 advertising locations around the United Kingdom.
Alongside traditional billboards, there are also digital versions in major cities including Edinburgh, Manchester, and London’s Piccadilly Circus.
The billboards are the latest phase of a larger publicity push for the UK flag carrier. In March it released a new television commercial directed by Emmy award winner Miles Jay.
Both the television and outdoor ads form part of BA’s ‘A British Original’ positioning. The campaign launch won a Cannes Lions award last year.
Photo Caption: British Airways/Uncommon British Airways/Uncommon
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