The bright red rondelle—a maple leaf encircled by an open ring—has graced the tails of Air Canada’s fleet for 60 years.
Its first flight was 01JAN 1965 when the airline, previously known as Trans-Canada Air Lines, rebranded to Air Canada.
"Air Canada" was chosen to reflect the country's bilingual heritage and its growing global presence, along with a new logo for public recognition.
Stewart, Morrison, and Roberts, one of Canada’s top branding firms at the time, was entrusted with designing the new emblem. Hans Kleefeld, the firm’s creative director, spearheaded the project. Kleefeld, known for creating logos for major global brands, presented several designs to Air Canada’s leadership. By the summer of 1964, the stylized maple leaf surrounded by an open circle had been selected as the airline's new symbol.
The logo was first unveiled to the public in October 1964 and made its official debut with the airline’s rebranding on New Year’s Day in 1965. Over the decades, the rondelle has undergone two updates—first in 1993 and again in 2004.
“Customers routinely tell us that no matter where they are in the world, as soon as they see the rondelle on an aircraft tail, they feel they are already at home. We take the responsibility of representing home to Canadians seriously, and we are immensely proud of the enduring longevity of such an iconic symbol,” said Michael Rousseau, President and CEO of Air Canada.
