Norwegian Air’s Instagram page now bears the logo of British Airways – a consequence of a light-hearted bet triggered by England’s 2-1 win over Norway in the World Cup quarter-final. The two airlines had agreed ahead of the match that the loser would temporarily swap their Instagram logo for the rival’s. True to the deal, visitors to Norwegian’s page are greeted by the British Airways crest, accompanied by a post that reads: “While the tournament is over for us, this friendly bet will forever live in all our hearts. We wish England and @british_airways all the best in the semi-final, and we sincerely hope you’ll get to bring football home!”
The playful gesture won widespread praise online. Malaysia Airlines commented: “Respect to @flynorwegian! Most airlines need six months and 14 approvals to change a logo.” Wonderful Indonesia’s official account added: “Losing the match but winning at good sportsmanship. Respect, Norwegian.” Aviation account @flightradar24 joked: “Twice as many BA flights to track today! Loving the spirit!” Other users echoed the sentiment, with one writing: “@flynorwegian this is great spirit, great vibes and how you run a social media account. You have my full support!” Another said: “Well played @flynorwegian and @british_airways.”
“Norwegian Air swaps Instagram logo for British Airways after losing a friendly bet triggered by England's 2-1 World Cup win.”
On the pitch, Jude Bellingham scored twice to send England into the semi-finals, where they will face Argentina. The victory also prompted a message from the Prince of Wales, William, who congratulated the team on a “top performance”. Earlier, before kick-off, Bellingham was spotted sharing a heartwarming moment with his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland in the tunnel. The Real Madrid midfielder wished the Norwegian striker luck, then hugged him and gave him a cheeky kick on the bum. The pair spent two seasons together at Dortmund between 2020 and 2022 and have remained close friends despite Haaland joining Manchester City and Bellingham moving to Real Madrid. Fans loved the interaction, with one saying: “I love their relationship.” Another wrote: “They have a brilliant friendship – it’s great to see!” A third added: “Even though he lost, he was happy for his friend at the end.”
The good sportsmanship on display, both on the field and off it, has left many applauding the spirit of the occasion – even as one airline now wears its rival’s colours.