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 1920, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T) collaborated with KLM to inaugurate a service from Croydon to Amsterdam, expanding their international air routes.

Amid increased European competition, British carriers ceased operations in 1921, leading to a period of minimal activity in the aviation industry.

Imperial Airways Ltd. was established on March 31, 1924, through the merger of four small postwar companies. It was one of the pioneers of intercontinental air routes, spanning Europe, Asia, and linking imperial territories in Africa.

On 1 May 1927, Imperial Airways launched its 'Silver Wing' service from London to Paris, marking the inception of luxury in-flight services in aviation history.

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

Theyre Lee-Elliott designed the Speedbird logo for Imperial Airways in 1932, which was later adopted by BOAC.

Imperial Airways, in partnership with Qantas Empire Airways, initiated the first UK to Australia services in 1934, with initial trips lasting up to 12.5 days.

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.

On May 2, 1952, BOAC became the world's first airline to operate jet airliners with the de Havilland Comet 1. This marked a significant advancement in aviation technology and paved the way for faster and more efficient air travel.

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

British European Airways inaugurated the London Waterloo Air Terminal on May 19, 1953. The terminal had a short lifespan as BEA relocated to the West London Air Terminal in 1957, and both terminals have since been demolished.

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.

The central area of London Airport opened in 1966, catalyzing the growth of the airport which would later be renamed Heathrow.

On April 8, 1968, a BOAC Boeing 707 aircraft suffered an engine failure shortly after takeoff at London Heathrow. This incident resulted in the deaths of 5 individuals, including stewardess Barbara Jane Harrison, who posthumously received The George Cross for her bravery during the evacuation.

After adopting the British Airways brand, BEA Airtours became 'BA Airtours' and continued operations from Gatwick and Manchester.

In September 1970, a BOAC Super VC10 aircraft was hijacked at Dawson’s Field, leading to a significant overhaul of aviation security measures. This incident prompted the introduction of enhanced baggage screening, passenger list reviews, and metal detectors at airports.

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.

Following the recommendations of the 1969 Edwards Report, a new British Airways Board was established to manage both BEA, BOAC, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast Airlines.

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.

Founded in 1973, High Life is the official in-flight magazine of British Airways. It provides passengers with a range of articles and features during their flight.

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.

In 1975, British Airways introduced the innovative 'shuttle' service, inspired by carriers in the United States. This service allowed passengers to purchase walk-up tickets with guaranteed seats, starting with flights from London to Glasgow and later expanding to other destinations.

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.

The position of Chief Executive at British Airways was formed in 1977.

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.

On 24 June 1982, British Airways Flight 9 flew through a cloud of volcanic ash and dust from the eruption of Mount Galunggung. The crew managed to glide the plane out of the dust cloud and restart all four engines, making a successful emergency landing at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport.

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 June 1984, music entrepreneur Richard Branson introduced Virgin Atlantic, a one-plane airline flying from London Gatwick to New York's Newark airport. Promising luxury in the Upper Class cabin, Virgin Atlantic aimed to provide 'first-class standards at business-class fares'.

In December 1984, British Airways revealed a new corporate identity designed by Landor Associates, signaling a fresh branding direction for the airline.

The final fatal accident involving a British Airways aircraft took place on August 22, 1985, when a British Airtours flight experienced engine failure during takeoff, leading to a tragic fire and multiple casualties.

In 1986, British Airways shifted its long-haul services to the newly-constructed Terminal 4 at Heathrow Airport, enhancing operational efficiency.

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 1988, British Airways merged with British Caledonian Airways, acquiring the latter's valuable slots at London Gatwick Airport. This move, although controversial for reducing market competition, was considered a beneficial deal for 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.

On 10 June 1990, British Airways Flight 5390 suffered a windscreen blowout due to the fitting of incorrect bolts, causing the captain to be partially blown out of the aircraft. The co-pilot successfully landed the plane at Southampton Airport.

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.

Richard Branson sued British Airways for libel in 1992 after a campaign of 'dirty tricks' initiated by BA. The case went to trial in 1993, resulting in a settlement where BA paid compensation to Branson and his airline.

British Asia Airways, a subsidiary of British Airways, was established in March 1993 to operate flights between London and Taipei.

In 1994, British Airways launched a post-apocalypse themed TV advertising campaign titled 'Where Is Everybody?' as part of its marketing strategy to attract passengers and promote its services.

On 10 November 1995, easyJet launched its first flight from London Luton to Glasgow, marking the beginning of British Airways' 25-year battle to compete against low-cost airlines.

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 June 1997, British Airways introduced a new corporate identity featuring designs from around the world on its aircraft, reflecting a diverse and global brand image.

Waterside, British Airways' head office, was finished in June 1998 to replace the previous head office, Speedbird House, at Heathrow Airport.

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 March 9, 2000, the British Airways London Eye welcomed its first passengers. The iconic observation wheel became a symbol of London and a popular tourist attraction. The following day, BA's chief executive was dismissed after poor financial results.

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' Boeing 747 First Class cabin was featured in the 2002 James Bond film 'Die Another Day'.

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 8 September 2004, British Airways announced that it was to sell its 18.5% stake in Qantas, raising £425 million to reduce the airline's debt.

On 8 March 2005, former Aer Lingus CEO Willie Walsh was announced to take over from Rod Eddington as the CEO of British Airways. Walsh pledged to retain the full-service model on the airline's UK network.

In June 2006, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) began investigating allegations of price-fixing fuel surcharges on long haul flights by British Airways. This led to resignations within the company.

On 1 August 2007, British Airways was fined £121.5 million by the OFT and faced additional fines from the US DOJ for price-fixing fuel surcharges. This resulted in significant financial penalties for the airline.

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.

On 14 December 2009, cabin crew at British Airways voted in favor of strike action over the Christmas period due to job cuts and contract changes.

The ballot for the strike action by British Airways cabin crew on 17 December was declared invalid by the High Court due to voting irregularities, preventing the strike from taking place.

On 6 March 2010, Unite announced further strike action at British Airways, resulting in the grounding of more than 80 planes at Heathrow Airport.

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 4 October 2010, British Airways celebrated the retirement of its Boeing 757 fleet after 27 years by unveiling one of the aircraft in a 'retro' Negus & Negus livery.

On 6 October 2010, the alliance between British Airways, American Airlines, and Iberia officially began operations, generating significant cost-saving benefits.

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.

The sale of British Midland International was completed for £172.5 million on 30 March 2012, after a contract to purchase the airline was agreed the previous month.

British Airways served as the official airline partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games and flew the Olympic flame from Athens International Airport to RNAS Culdrose on 18 May 2012.

British Airways Flight 762, using an Airbus A319-131, experienced fan cowl doors detachment from both engines shortly after takeoff on 24 May 2013. The right engine caught fire during the approach due to a ruptured fuel pipe, but the aircraft landed safely with no injuries.

On 22 December 2013, British Airways Flight 34, a Boeing 747-436, hit a building at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after missing a turning on a taxiway. The aircraft's starboard wing was severely damaged, but there were no injuries among the passengers and crew.

In August 2014, British Airways' CEO Willie Walsh announced that the airline would continue to use flight paths over Iraq despite hostilities in the region, following other airlines' decisions to avoid Iraqi airspace.

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.

In November 2016, a ballot for industrial action by British Airways' Mixed Fleet crew resulted in a majority in favor of industrial action.

On 27 May 2017, British Airways suffered a computer power failure leading to the cancellation of all flights and affecting thousands of passengers.

Starting from September 1, 2017, British Airways replaced its cartoon safety video with a new live action safety video hosted by Chabuddy G. The video featured various British celebrities and was part of Comic Relief's charity programme.

On 31 October 2017, after 85 days of discontinuous industrial action, Mixed Fleet accepted a new pay deal from BA which ended the dispute.

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.

Amidst the decline in the value of Iranian currency due to U.S. sanctions, British Airways announced that the Iranian route is 'not commercially viable' and decided to stop its services in Iran, effective 22 September 2018.

In March 2019, British Airways revealed the Club Suite, a new Business Class seating configuration with enhanced privacy and comfort features for passengers.

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.

On July 28, 2020, British Airways' cabin crew union issued an 'industrial action' warning to prevent job cuts and pay cuts following the airline's decision to retire its 747-400 fleet.

On October 12, 2020, Sean Doyle, CEO of Aer Lingus, succeeded Álex Cruz as the CEO of British Airways.

On June 18, 2021, a British Airways Boeing 787-8 experienced a nose landing gear collapse at Heathrow Airport. Fortunately, no passengers were on board during the incident.

On July 6, 2022, British Airways Flight 820, an Airbus A320, caught fire while landing at Copenhagen Airport. The fire was extinguished by airport firefighters using foam. The plane was later ferried back to London-Heathrow Airport.

On April 17, 2023, British Airways released a new safety video as part of the 'A British Original' campaign. The video featured personalities like Emma Raducanu and was in line with the airline's marketing efforts.

As of January 2024, British Airways operates a fleet of 253 aircraft with 47 orders. The airline operates a mix of Airbus and Boeing wide-body aircraft.

As of February 2024, British Airways effectively operates with three Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) - British Airways 'mainline' at London Heathrow Airport, BA Euroflyer at London Gatwick Airport, and BA Cityflyer based at London City Airport.

British Airways is providing a status match program where customers can match their frequent flyer status with seven different airlines.

British Airways marking 70 years of flying from Chicago with new flight additions and terminal changes.