British Airways

Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T), a predecessor of British Airways, initiated the world's first daily international scheduled air service between London and Paris. The inaugural flight carried a lone passenger and various cargo items.

In 1929, Imperial Airways started serving India, a route that remains significant for British Airways as one of its key long-haul markets.

In 1935, Hillman’s Airways, Spartan Air Lines, and United Airways Limited merged to create Allied British Airways, consolidating British aviation.

In 1936, Allied British Airways joined British Continental Airways to establish British Airways Ltd, which began operations from Heston, Middlesex, and later moved to Gatwick. The airline operated routes to various European destinations and received government support for expansion.

The Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was established by British Airways Limited in May 1938, playing a crucial role in ferrying warplanes during World War II.

In November 1939, Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd merged to form BOAC following their relocation to Bristol during World War II.

British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was established in April 1940 as the new state airline, operating wartime services under the supervision of the Air Ministry. This event played a crucial role in shaping the post-war aviation landscape.

BEA introduced the Vickers Viscount, a British medium-range aircraft, and started operations with this type on April 18th, 1953.

The Munich Air Disaster of 1958 is considered one of the darkest moments in British sporting history.

In 1964, BOAC introduced the beloved British-made VC10 aircraft known for its swiftness, silence, and serenity.

BOAC started passenger flights from London to New York using the Boeing 747, known as the Queen Of The Skies. The aircraft remained in service at BA until 2024, but was retired early in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On September 1st, 1972, the British Airways Group was established, setting the stage for the eventual merger of BOAC and BEA on March 31st, 1974, leading to the creation of British Airways.

On March 31st, 1974, BOAC and BEA merged to create British Airways, consolidating their operations and expanding their network. This merger also brought Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines under the British Airways umbrella.

On April 1, 1974, BOAC and BEA merged under the British Airways Board, officially operating as British Airways, creating the world's largest network of routes at the time.

On 22 November 1974, British Airways Flight 870 was hijacked shortly after take-off from Dubai International Airport for London-Heathrow. The hijackers eventually surrendered after 84 hours, and the captain, Jim Futcher, was awarded multiple medals for his actions during the hijacking.

British Airways introduced Concorde for supersonic travel, with the first scheduled passenger flight taking place on January 21, 1976, from London to Bahrain.

On 10 September 1976, a Trident 3B on British Airways Flight 476 collided in mid-air with an Inex Adria DC9-31 near Zagreb, resulting in the death of all 54 passengers and 9 crew members on the BA aircraft. This incident remains the only fatal accident to a British Airways aircraft since the company's formation in 1974.

At the 1980 Farnborough Airshow, a British Airways Concorde was spotted with the short-lived 'British' tiles and Negus livery.

In March 1981, British Airways introduced its first branded long-haul business class cabin called 'Super Club'. It offered the widest seats in business class during that era, enhancing the passenger experience and comfort.

Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge was appointed as the CEO of British Airways in 1983. Along with Lord King, he played a crucial role in the turnaround of BA in the 1980s.

In February 1987, the Thatcher government privatized British Airways, floating it on the London Stock Exchange. The initial share offering was highly oversubscribed, marking a successful privatization of a state-owned company.

In July 1987, British Airways announced the acquisition of British Caledonian, the second airline in Britain. The takeover was seen as a mutually agreed rescue deal to prevent the collapse of British Caledonian.

In 1989, British Airways released 'The Face' advertisement, considered one of the greatest airline TV commercials. It creatively utilized non-airline imagery to convey a powerful message.

Flight BA149 to Kuwait, which departed Heathrow on 1 August 1990, remains one of the most controversial flights in British Airways' history with unresolved circumstances.

British Airways Flight 149 was destroyed on the ground at Kuwait International Airport as a result of military action during the First Gulf War. Fortunately, there were no passengers on board during the incident.

In response to a decline in demand after the 1990 Gulf War, British Airways gave away every seat on every international flight to and from the UK on a single day in 1991, in an effort to boost travel and market BA Holidays.

In 1996, British Airways faced financial challenges under CEO Bob Ayling due to competition, high oil prices, and a strong pound. Ayling's confrontations with trade unions and failed partnerships led to disruptions and loss of investor confidence.

In September 1998, British Airways, along with other airlines, formed the Oneworld alliance, becoming the third-largest airline alliance globally.

In 1999, British Airways, along with American Airlines and Qantas, formed the OneWorld Alliance, a global airline partnership that aimed to provide seamless travel experience for passengers across member airlines.

On 29 December 2000, a mentally ill passenger entered the cockpit of British Airways Flight 2069 en route from London to Nairobi, causing the Boeing 747-400 to stall and bank to 94 degrees. The pilots struggled to regain control as the aircraft briefly descended at a rapid rate before the intruder was restrained by passengers.

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, British Airways conducted a comprehensive review of its business strategy known as 'Future Size and Shape'. This review led to significant changes including downsizing at Gatwick, reshaping the Heathrow network, discontinuation of Concorde service, and reduction of operations in UK regions.

British Airways' final Concorde flight took place on October 24, 2003, from New York (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR), marking the end of an era for supersonic air travel.

On 17 January 2008, British Airways Flight 38 crash-landed short of Heathrow Airport's runway 27L due to icing in the fuel system, resulting in damage to the Boeing 777-200ER. Despite the first hull loss of a Boeing 777, there were no fatalities, but some passengers sustained injuries.

London Heathrow Terminal 5 was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 14, 2008, marking a significant milestone for British Airways as it moved to its newly built home.

On July 30, 2008, British Airways and Iberia Airlines revealed a merger proposal involving an all-stock transaction to collaborate. The plan aimed to unite the two airlines while keeping their distinct brands, similar to the KLM and Air France merger agreement.

On 6 November 2009, British Airways announced its worst ever half-year loss in the company's history to the public.

British Airways and Iberia Airlines confirmed their merger on 8 April 2010, creating the International Airlines Group, becoming the third largest commercial airline in the world by revenue.

On 21 January 2011, the merger between British Airways and Iberia was finalized, creating the International Airlines Group (IAG), one of the largest airline groups globally.

On September 8, 2015, British Airways Flight 2276 experienced an uncontained engine failure of its left engine during takeoff at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, resulting in a substantial fire. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated with some sustaining minor injuries.

Between August 21, 2018, and September 5, 2018, hackers conducted a sophisticated criminal attack on British Airways' website affecting around 380,000 transactions. The airline was fined £183 million in July 2019 by the Information Commissioner's Office.

On April 28, 2020, British Airways revealed plans to make up to 12,000 staff redundant due to the global collapse of air traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.