Midwestern “Burgundy Blaze” (1997)

In 1997, European design firm Talismann was chosen to renew the brand for the new millennium. The firm took the livery in a bold new direction, while at the same time conserving the distinctive colors and shapes which customers had grown accustomed to.

The late 90s also saw the airline place an order for 48 new Boeing 717-200 aircraft. These new aircraft replaced the airline’s increasingly expensive to operate fleet of DC-9-10s and -30s, some of which were nearing three decades in operation.