British Airways History: Imperial, BOAC, BEA and Concorde – Airline Employee Shop

British Airways History

British Airways traces its roots to the world's first daily international air service in 1919 and grew through Imperial Airways, BOAC and BEA into one of the best-known airlines in the world. Here's a short history of British Airways and its forerunners, plus the British Airways collection that celebrates them.

Pioneers and Imperial Airways (1919–1939)

On August 25, 1919, Aircraft Transport and Travel began a daily London to Paris service, the first daily international commercial air service. On March 31, 1924, Daimler Airway, Handley Page Transport, Instone Air Line and British Marine Air Navigation merged to form Imperial Airways. In 1932 Theyre Lee-Elliott designed Imperial's Speedbird logo. By 1935 a group of smaller companies had also merged to form British Airways Ltd.

BOAC and BEA (1939–1973)

In November 1939 Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd were nationalized to create the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). After the war, a new state airline, British European Airways (BEA), took over European and domestic flying. On May 2, 1952, BOAC de Havilland Comet 1 G-ALYP left London for Johannesburg with 36 paying passengers. It was the first regularly scheduled jet airliner passenger service. The Civil Aviation Act 1971 created the British Airways Board, which brought BOAC and BEA under one management in 1972.

British Airways takes flight (1974–1999)

BOAC and BEA operations came together as British Airways on April 1, 1974. On January 21, 1976, British Airways and Air France began Concorde service, with BA flying from Heathrow to Bahrain. A new Landor Associates livery arrived in 1984, and BA was privatized and floated on the London Stock Exchange in February 1987. It took over British Caledonian that July. On February 1, 1999, BA launched the oneworld alliance with American Airlines, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.

Concorde's farewell and IAG (2000–today)

BA's final commercial Concorde flight, BA002 from New York JFK to Heathrow, flew on October 24, 2003. On January 21, 2011, British Airways and Iberia completed their merger under International Airlines Group (IAG), which later added Aer Lingus.

A few things collectors love

  • "Speedbird" lives on as BA's radio call sign, even though the logo left the livery in 1984.
  • For the 2019 centenary, BA painted three Boeing 747-400s in BOAC, Negus and Landor colors and an Airbus A319 in BEA colors.
  • The 1997 world art tail fins sparked debate, and in 1999 BA chose the Union Flag "Chatham Dockyard" design.

Shop British Airways

Browse British Airways logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the British Airways collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for the British Airways fan in your life.

AirlineEmployeeShop.com is an independent retailer of airline memorabilia. This page is for historical interest and is not affiliated with or endorsed by British Airways.