Occidental 744

Himmelbahn's original intent when merging with Italiaggio and creating KEF was not for the two operators to operate separately forever. In early 2002, after the merger deal was signed but before the new Himmelbahn and Italiaggio liveries were introduced, work was already underway to actuate the future of KEF, a future with one unified brand for Germany, Italy, and beyond. In early documents the new brand was referred to as Europabahn but leadership wanted a name more less German sounding and so by 2003, the name Occidental was on the table. Work on the legal side and design side continued that year despite public pushback on the new liveries and what some deemed their "denationalized flag carriers". Officials in both the Italian and German governments voiced lukewarm private support to the proposal. KEF announced its intention to create Occidental in 2004 shortly after that year's EU expansion. With the announcement came a concept livery and brand identity for the new carrier. The livery's blue and yellow didn't reflect any national origin, instead broadcasting a message most clearly demonstrated in the airline's tagline. Europe's Airline. The design of the livery itself built on the bones of the Himmelaggio joint livery, carrying the concept of a European flag carrier into the future.
Occidental's future, though, was not to be. The furor from sects of German and Italian citizens presented with their new flag carrier was unexpected. The media's immediate pivot to lambasting Occidental was unfortunate. Both governments involved pulled their support. Angry citizens organized a boycott that scared shareholders more than it dented revenues. The Italian government pledged to use its 25% stake to torpedo Occidental at any cost. Worse, the European Commission announced the beginnings of an anti-trust investigation and warned that further integration of the two lines would almost certainly be out of bounds. Occidental died less than a financial quarter after it had been announced and soon it was a dirty word relegated to comedy sketches and lists of ill-fated brands. KEF never tried to merge any of its carrier's public facing brands again and soon after the board was cleared and the idea of an airline for all of Europe died.