A False Report Says an American Airlines Paints Its Fleets with Colors of Khmer Krom Flag
After news reports saying several Khmer Krom people were convicted by the Vietnamese government about their activities supporting the commemoration of International Woman’s Day, a piece of news that went viral on social media this week said an American airline painted their fleets with the colors of the Khmer Krom flag. The claim has been widely shared on social media. However, by reviewing the history of the company, we found out the claim is false.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
A claim that went viral on social media said the American airline Southwest Airlines accepted the request from the Khmer Krom – Khmer-speaking living in south Vietnam now – to paint their fleets with the colors of the group’s flag.
The claim was circulated on social media with several photos of the airline’s fleets painted with blue, yellow, and red – the same colors shared with the Khmer Krom flag.
The claim has been shared nearly 3,000 times, reacted to, and commented on by Khmer-speaking social media users.
Below is the capture of the claim circulated on Facebook on March 14, 2024, saying “Khmer Krom can do it! Khmer Krom requested an American airline to paint its fleets with the colors of the group flag. Then, the company agreed with the request.”
The same claim had been circulated on social media by other Facebook users and got a lot of reactions, shares, and comments.
Below is the capture of the same claim which was posted on social media on March 14, 2024. The post got more than 3,000 shares and a lot of comments.
Below is another capture of the social media claim which got more than 700 times of shares, a lot of reactions, and comments.
The claim was widely circulated on social media last week. It can be seen here 1 (archived), 2 (archived), 3 (archived), 4 (archived).
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo Cambodia began debunking the claim by running a reverse image search and reviewing the profile of the American company. Then, we find out facts below.
By running a reverse image search, we found out the fleets in the photos are of Southwest Airlines – one of the U.S. largest passenger airlines operating in the country.
By reviewing the profile of the company available on its website, we realize that the American airline renovated colors on its fleets in 2014 when the company reached its 50th anniversary. The U.S.-based airline decided to paint its fleets with the colors of bold blue, silver, yellow, and red.
Below is the capture of the colors Southwest Airlines chose for its fleets to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014.
In its story, the company explained the bold blue symbolizes the company’s commitment to exploration and ascending to top level while the silver honors the company’s business and longstanding in the industry.
The airline said the warm red expresses its spirits on customers and the yellow which is like the dawn of sunlight represents the start of new chapter.
Southwest 50 Years | Archived Link
Incepted in 1967, the first fleets operated by the airline were painted in yellow, red, and orange, completely different from colors painted on the company’s fleets in recent years.
Below is the photo of Southwest Airlines’ first fleets operating between 1970 and 1980. This photo is available on the airline’s Instagram.
Southwest Airlines’ Instagram Post
The airline said in its story that the change was to give a livery unique as one of the U.S. largest airlines. See the explanation here.
By reviewing its story, the American company said nothing about the colors which are as same as the colors of the Khmer Krom flag.
Southwest Airlines’ Instagram Post
More than the colors mentioned above, some of the airline’s fleets were painted in different colors to honor the U.S. important days like the Independence Day, and tourism destinations.
Below is the photo of the airline’s fleet painted in the colors of the American flag to celebrate the country’s Independence Day.
Southwest Airlines’ Facebook Post
CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo Cambodia found out the claim mentioned earlier is false. Southwest Airlines changed the colors painted on bodies of its fleets in 2014. This has nothing to do with the colors of the Khmer Krom flag.
Title:A False Report Says an American Airlines Paints Its Fleets with Colors of Khmer Krom Flag
Written By: Jay UdomResult: False
