Not every airline can boast a history like British Airways'. This airline's history is so storied, in fact, the British Airways Archive and Museum Collection, established at the company's inceptions, preserves the history of British Airways and its predecessor companies. Read on for highlights:
On 25 August 1919 Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, a company forerunner, launched the first daily scheduled international flight from London to Paris. The plane, a single-engine de Havilland DH4A biplane took off from Hundslow Heath, not far from today's Heathrow International. Two-and- a-half hours later, the plane landed in Le Bourget, delivering its one passenger and cargo of newspapers, Devonshire cream and grouse. Soon after, two other airways began flights to Paris and Brussels. In these pioneering days, companies struggled with few passengers, high fares and less-than-predictable flights.
Just five years later, Britain's four fledgling airlines merged to form Imperial Airways Limited. Passengers' international flight choices included Paris, Brussels, Basle, Cologne and Zurich. Over the next 10 years, flights to India, the Arabian Gulf, Egypt, South Africa, Singapore, West Africa and Australia were introduced along with the addition of the Croydon airport. In 1935, several smaller air transport companies merged to form British Airways Limited operating out of Gatwick airport. British Airways Limited became Imperial Airways Limited's main UK competitor for European flights. In response to a governmental review, the two airlines were nationalized in 1939 to form British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).
The airline industry experienced vast changes after World War II. BOAC continued its international flights while continental European and domestic flights were handled by a new airline, British European Airways (BEA). BOAC was offering flights to New York, Japan, Chicago and the U.S. West Coast by 1957. This, coupled with BEA's network of domestic destinations put these two airlines at the forefront of scheduled passenger and cargo services in the UK.
BOAC led the world into the jet era in the 1950s. Its first jet plane flight in 1952, using a Comet 1 flying to Johannesburg, cut the previous flight time in half. BOAC also had the distinction of the first jet transatlantic with two Comet 4s flying simultaneously from London and New York. Other developments during this era: BEA completed the first automatic landing of a scheduled flight, ushering in all-weather operations. BEA met the demand of the mass holiday package industry by launching its own charter airline, BEA Airtours.
Beginning in 1960, several governmental actions led to the creation and eventual merging of Britain's airlines into British Airways in 1974. Though these actions initially caused financial and industrial upheaval, the new airline eventually recovered and employed its predecessors' pioneering spirit with the world's first supersonic passenger service with Concorde in 1976.
British Airways struggled financially under government control until it was privatized in 1987. Later that year, British Airways merged with Caldonian.
Today, British Airways is UK's largest international airline offering flights to more than 550 destinations. Passengers can chose from first class, business class, premium economy class and economy class. Services have come a long way since that first flight. British Airways offers food services and a selection of entertainment options including movies, TV, games, and music. Passengers can even shop in the on-board Highlife shop. - 16492
On 25 August 1919 Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, a company forerunner, launched the first daily scheduled international flight from London to Paris. The plane, a single-engine de Havilland DH4A biplane took off from Hundslow Heath, not far from today's Heathrow International. Two-and- a-half hours later, the plane landed in Le Bourget, delivering its one passenger and cargo of newspapers, Devonshire cream and grouse. Soon after, two other airways began flights to Paris and Brussels. In these pioneering days, companies struggled with few passengers, high fares and less-than-predictable flights.
Just five years later, Britain's four fledgling airlines merged to form Imperial Airways Limited. Passengers' international flight choices included Paris, Brussels, Basle, Cologne and Zurich. Over the next 10 years, flights to India, the Arabian Gulf, Egypt, South Africa, Singapore, West Africa and Australia were introduced along with the addition of the Croydon airport. In 1935, several smaller air transport companies merged to form British Airways Limited operating out of Gatwick airport. British Airways Limited became Imperial Airways Limited's main UK competitor for European flights. In response to a governmental review, the two airlines were nationalized in 1939 to form British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).
The airline industry experienced vast changes after World War II. BOAC continued its international flights while continental European and domestic flights were handled by a new airline, British European Airways (BEA). BOAC was offering flights to New York, Japan, Chicago and the U.S. West Coast by 1957. This, coupled with BEA's network of domestic destinations put these two airlines at the forefront of scheduled passenger and cargo services in the UK.
BOAC led the world into the jet era in the 1950s. Its first jet plane flight in 1952, using a Comet 1 flying to Johannesburg, cut the previous flight time in half. BOAC also had the distinction of the first jet transatlantic with two Comet 4s flying simultaneously from London and New York. Other developments during this era: BEA completed the first automatic landing of a scheduled flight, ushering in all-weather operations. BEA met the demand of the mass holiday package industry by launching its own charter airline, BEA Airtours.
Beginning in 1960, several governmental actions led to the creation and eventual merging of Britain's airlines into British Airways in 1974. Though these actions initially caused financial and industrial upheaval, the new airline eventually recovered and employed its predecessors' pioneering spirit with the world's first supersonic passenger service with Concorde in 1976.
British Airways struggled financially under government control until it was privatized in 1987. Later that year, British Airways merged with Caldonian.
Today, British Airways is UK's largest international airline offering flights to more than 550 destinations. Passengers can chose from first class, business class, premium economy class and economy class. Services have come a long way since that first flight. British Airways offers food services and a selection of entertainment options including movies, TV, games, and music. Passengers can even shop in the on-board Highlife shop. - 16492
About the Author:
Susan is the marketing director for Saflights.co.za. South Arica's leading Flight comparison portal which includes all major airlines including British Airways
