BRING BACK THE FLAG, THATCHER TELLS AIRLINE.

Byline: Associated Press 

British Airways must have hoped the last shot had been fired at its new tail designs, but ex-prime minister Margaret Thatcher raised her still-influential voice Thursday against the removal of the Union Jack logos.

``We fly the British flag, not these awful things you are putting on tails,'' Thatcher told the British Airways workers who happened to be on duty at a corporate booth set up for the annual conference of the Conservative Party.

In case anyone possibly could have missed her point, Thatcher pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it around a model British Airways jet to cover up the colorful new logo.

Thatcher glowered at British Airways executives who responded with embarrassed laughter, and then she walked off.

British Airways spokeswoman Kate Gaylater characterized the exchange as ``a light-hearted discussion with her about our new identity, which we enjoyed.

``She has always been a great supporter of all things British and so are we.''

British Airways hit severe public-relations turbulence after announcing in June that it would replace its old Union Jack-style logos on the jet fleet with an array of colorful designs from around the world.

Thatcher was prime minister from 1979 to '90 and was responsible for selling off formerly state-run British Airways on the London Stock Exchange, a deal often held up as one of Britain's most successful privatizations.

Chief executive Bob Ayling says the designs reflect the global character of the highly successful airline. Many Britons, however, have not been amused to see native African and Asian artwork on the jets that used to fly the British flag around the world.