One question on a lot of people’s minds following the two recent tragedies that have struck Malaysia Airlines planes, is can the company recover from two significant tragedies so close together?

While there is no magic ball we can look into to predict the future of the airline, this is not the first time an airline has suffered big, image damaging crashes. While some have not recovered, such as Pan Am, there are a number of airlines that have survived such tragedies and continue to thrive.

While most of the surviving companies have had to go through some pretty radical restructuring and re-branding, all hope is not lost for the financially struggling Malaysian national treasure.

Malaysia Airlines faces a long road to redemption. While some airlines have been able to move on from tragedy and regain customers’ trust with little more than a fresh coat of paint, others have had to take far more drastic action. ValuJet, a low-cost US operator, rebranded itself as AirTran Airways after a crash in 1996, and managed to shed the perception that it had a bad safety record. Another that was forced to embrace a corporate makeover was SwissAir, following a crash in 1998. Three years later it became Swiss International Airlines.The brand revamp was more subtle than some: the airline, often known as Swiss, has kept its instantly recognisable tailfin logo of a white cross on a red background. During the seven-year project, it refreshed its planes’ liveries, refurbished its premium-class lounges and upgraded cabins in its longhaul aircraft. Clark thinks Swiss was able to pull through because it retained the support of the public in Switzerland, who viewed the airline as a symbol of national pride; this, perhaps, offers some hope for Malaysia Airlines.

Other airlines, however, have not been so lucky and Malaysia Airline’s weak financial position going into these tragedies is not something they have in their favour.

The airline have revealed that they were already beginning somewhat of a re-branding with changing their livery, so a complete re-brand may not be necessary, but some drastic cost cutting measures will be needed with a highly likely management make-over.

Find more details on the history of airline comebacks and Malaysia Airline’s chances at The Guardian.