5/02/1952: First Commercial Jet Flies to South Africa
Today in Aviation, the first scheduled jet flight bound for Johannesburg, South Africa, left London in 1952 with 36 passengers.
3/31/1974: British Airways Begins Operations
Four British companies, BOAC, BEA, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast Airlines, merged today in 1974 to form British Airways.
History
3/29/1981: BA Retires the Iconic Vickers VC10
Today in Aviation, British Airways (BA) retired from its fleet its last Vickers VC10, a mid-sized, narrow-body long-range jet.
3/06/1970: BEA Airtours Operates Maiden Flight
Today in Aviation, the charter arm of British European Airways (BEA), BEA Airtours (KT), took its maiden flight in 1970.
Oldest Airlines Still in Operation Part 1
These are the oldest airlines, founded before WWII, that are still in operation today.
1/20/1959: Maiden Flight of the Vickers Vanguard
The Vickers Vanguard, the follow-up to the popular Vickers Viscount, took to the skies for the first time on this day in 1959.
Style in the Aisles: British Airways Uniform Through the Years
British Airways' anticipated new uniform tailored by Ozwald Boateng is not the first time a new look for its staff has divided opinion.
1/03/1981: Pan Am Retires the Boeing 707
After 23 years of service, Pan Am retired the aircraft that ushered in the jet age back in the 1950s.
12/31/2006: BWIA Becomes Caribbean Airways
After 66 years of British West Indies Airways (BWIA), the state-owned airline was replaced by Caribbean Airlines.
Flashback: Flying the Inaugural A380 with Singapore Airlines
Today in 2007, Airways' Chris Sloan was one of the few lucky people on board Singapore Airlines' (SQ) inaugural A380 flight, SQ380.