History of British Airways in Timeline
British Airways (BA) is the UK's flag carrier, headquartered in London near its primary hub, Heathrow Airport. As a major international airline, BA plays a key role in global travel and tourism, connecting the UK to destinations worldwide. The company is a significant player in the aviation industry, known for its extensive network and services.
7 hours ago : British Airways Faces Travel Chaos: Luggage Delays and Financial Disputes at Heathrow
British Airways is experiencing significant disruptions due to baggage delays at Heathrow Airport, leaving thousands stranded. The airline is also seeking £10M in compensation over the chaos, impacting travel across Europe and long-haul routes.
1916: Corporate Lineage Established
In 1916, the corporate lineage of British Airways can be traced back to five airlines established in the United Kingdom.
August 1919: First Daily International Air Service
On August 25, 1919, Aircraft Transport & Travel (AT&T) began the world's first daily international commercial air service from London to Paris.
1922: Corporate Lineage Established
In 1922, the corporate lineage of British Airways can be traced back to five airlines established in the United Kingdom.
1924: Mergers and Acquisitions
In 1924, five airlines merged, and several other airlines were established and merged.
1939: Formation of BOAC
In 1939, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was formed.
1947: Formation of BEA
In 1947, British European Airways (BEA) was formed.
1953: Proposals to establish a single British airline raised
In 1953, proposals to establish a single British airline, combining the assets of BOAC and BEA, were first raised due to difficulties in negotiating air rights through Cyprus and disagreements over route usage.
1969: Edwards Report Recommendations
Following the recommendations of the 1969 Edwards Report, a new British Airways Board was constituted to manage BEA, BOAC, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast Airlines.
1969: Operation of 747s by BOAC
In 1969 BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) began operating the 747 aircraft.
April 1972: British Airways Board Constituted
On April 1, 1972, a new British Airways Board was constituted to manage BEA, BOAC, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast Airlines.
1972: British Airways Board Established
In 1972, the Government of the United Kingdom established a British Airways Board to manage British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast Airlines.
1973: Founding of High Life magazine
In 1973, High Life, the official in-flight magazine of British Airways, was founded.
March 1974: British Airways formed from merger
On March 31, 1974, British Airways was formed through the merger of British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast Airlines.
March 1974: British Airways Established
On March 31, 1974, the British Airways Board unified its branding, effectively establishing British Airways as an airline.
1974: Operation of 747s
In 1974, British Airways operated the -100, -200, and -400 aircraft.
1974: New British Airways colour scheme introduced
In 1974, following its formation, British Airways introduced a new white, blue, and red colour scheme for its aeroplanes, featuring a cropped Union Jack on the tail fins. This design was created by Negus & Negus.
1974: Inception of BA and involvement in hull-loss incidents
Since British Airways' inception in 1974, it has been involved in three hull-loss incidents (British Airways Flight 149 was destroyed on the ground at Kuwait International Airport as a result of military action during the First Gulf War with no one on board) and two hijacking attempts.
January 1976: First Concorde Passenger Flight
On January 21, 1976, British Airways and Air France operated the Concorde, the world's first supersonic aircraft, carrying passengers from London Heathrow to Bahrain.
May 1976: Concorde Service to the United States Begins
On May 24, 1976, British Airways began Concorde service to the United States with a flight to Washington Dulles.
1976: Government Changes Aviation Policy
In 1976, the Government changed its aviation policy to prevent British Airways and British Caledonian from competing on long-haul routes.
1976: Fatal accident of British Airways Flight 476
In 1976, the only fatal accident experienced by a British Airways aircraft occurred with British Airways Flight 476, which was involved in a midair collision later attributed to an error made by air traffic control.
September 1977: Concorde Flights to New York JFK Begin
On September 22, 1977, British Airways began Concorde flights to New York JFK.
1981: Privatisation Preparation Instructed
In 1981, British Airways was instructed to prepare for privatisation by the Thatcher government, and Sir John King was appointed chairman.
December 1983: British Airways plc Formed
In December 1983, British Airways plc was formed with the government holding all of the shares.
1983: Slogan 'the world's favourite airline' first used
In 1983, the slogan 'the world's favourite airline' was first used by British Airways.
1984: "The Flower Duet" first used in advertisement
In 1984, "The Flower Duet" by Léo Delibes was first used in a British Airways advertisement directed by Tony Scott, in an arrangement by Howard Blake.
1984: New livery designed by Landor Associates
In 1984, British Airways updated its livery with a new design by Landor Associates in preparation for privatisation.
1984: Formation of Virgin Atlantic
In 1984, the formation of Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic created a competitor for British Airways.
February 1987: Privatisation of BA
In February 1987, British Airways was privatised and floated on the London Stock Exchange.
February 1987: Privatisation of British Airways
In February 1987, British Airways was privatised as part of a wider privatisation plan by the Thatcher government.
1989: "The Flower Duet" reworked for "Face" advertisement
In 1989, "The Flower Duet" was reworked by Malcolm McLaren and Yanni for British Airways' "Face" advertisement.
1990: "The Flower Duet" appeared in different arrangements
Between 1990 and 2010, "The Flower Duet" appeared in many different arrangements in British Airways advertising.
1992: Acquisition of Dan-Air
In 1992, British Airways expanded through the acquisition of Dan-Air.
January 1993: Purchase of TAT European Airlines Shareholding
In January 1993, British Airways purchased a 49% shareholding in TAT European Airlines.
March 1993: Formation of British Asia Airways and Purchase of Qantas Stake
In March 1993, British Asia Airways was formed to operate between London and Taipei. Also that month, BA purchased a 25% stake in Qantas.
1993: Acquisition of TAT European Airlines
In 1993, British Airways acquired TAT European Airlines.
1993: Libel Case and Settlement
In 1993, British Airways was sued for libel by Virgin Atlantic over a dirty tricks campaign, resulting in an apology, damages, and legal costs.
1996: Purchase of Remaining Stake in TAT European Airlines
In 1996, British Airways took up an option to purchase the remaining 51% in TAT European Airlines and acquired a $67 stake in Air Liberte.
1997: Introduction of Project Utopia livery
In 1997, British Airways introduced the controversial Project Utopia livery, featuring multiple tailfin designs. This change was met with criticism, including from Margaret Thatcher.
1997: Cabin crew strike over cost-cutting drive
In 1997, British Airways management faced strike action by cabin crew over a £1billion cost-cutting drive.
June 1998: Completion of Waterside head office
In June 1998, British Airways' head office, Waterside, located in Harmondsworth near Heathrow Airport, was completed, replacing Speedbird House.
September 1998: Formation of Oneworld Airline Alliance
In September 1998, British Airways, along with American Airlines, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas, formed the Oneworld airline alliance.
1998: Stake in InterCapital and Regional Rail obtained
From 1998 British Airways owned a 10% stake in InterCapital and Regional Rail (ICRR).
1998: Establishment of Go
In 1998, Bob Ayling's leadership led to the establishment of a budget airline, Go.
February 1999: Oneworld Alliance Begins Operations
On February 1, 1999, the Oneworld airline alliance began operations.
1999: Announcement of Chatham Dockyard Union Flag tailfin design
In 1999, British Airways CEO Bob Ayling announced that all BA planes would adopt the Chatham Dockyard Union Flag tailfin design, originally intended for the Concorde.
1999: Co-founding of Oneworld airline alliance
In 1999, British Airways co-founded the airline alliance Oneworld with American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
1999: US action dismissed
In 1999, Virgin's action in the U.S. regarding BA's domination of the trans-Atlantic routes was thrown out.
March 2000: Rod Eddington Appointed as Successor
In March 2000, Bob Ayling was removed from his position, and British Airways announced Rod Eddington as his successor.
September 2000: Merger Plan Falls Through
In September 2000, British Airways and KLM merger plan fell through.
June 2001: Sale of Go
In June 2001, Go was sold to a management buyout backed by 3i.
2001: Slogan 'the world's favourite airline' dropped
In 2001, the slogan 'the world's favourite airline' was dropped after Lufthansa overtook British Airways in terms of passenger numbers.
2002: Purchase of ba.com domain
In 2002, British Airways purchased the internet domain ba.com from Bell Atlantic. 'BA' is the company's initialism and IATA Airline code.
October 2003: Final Commercial Concorde Flight
On October 24, 2003, British Airways operated the final commercial Concorde flight, BA002 from New York-JFK to London-Heathrow.
September 2004: Sale of Stake in Qantas
In September 2004, BA sold its stake in Qantas.
2004: Slot ownership at Heathrow Airport
In 2004 British Airways owned 40% of the slots available at Heathrow Airport.
2005: Cartoon safety video
From circa 2005 until 2017 British airways used a cartoon safety video.
2005: Willie Walsh Appointed CEO
In 2005, Willie Walsh became the chief executive officer of British Airways.
2005: Wildcat action by union members
In 2005, wildcat action was taken by union members over a decision by Gate Gourmet not to renew the contracts of 670 workers and replace them with agency staff, costing British Airways £30 million.
October 2006: Civil rights dispute over religious symbol
In October 2006, British Airways became involved in a civil rights dispute when a Christian employee was forbidden to wear a necklace bearing the cross, a religious symbol.
March 2007: Stake in Flybe obtained
In March 2007, British Airways obtained a 15% stake in Flybe from the sale of BA Connect.
2007: Sale of Airways Aero Association
In 2007, British Airways sold Airways Aero Association, the operator of the British Airways flying club based at Wycombe Air Park, to Surinder Arora.
2007: Cabin crew threatened strike action
In 2007, cabin crew threatened strike action over proposed salary changes, resulting in losses of £80 million for British Airways.
2007: Bartle Bogle Hegarty as advertising agency
Since 2007, British Airways used Bartle Bogle Hegarty as its advertising agency.
January 2008: Unveiling of OpenSkies
In January 2008, BA unveiled its new subsidiary OpenSkies, flying non-stop from Paris to New York's JFK and Newark airports.
July 2008: Merger Plan Announced with Iberia
In July 2008, British Airways announced a merger plan with Iberia.
2008: easyJet surpasses British Airways in passenger numbers
In 2008, British Airways carried 34.6 million passengers, but easyJet transported 44.5 million passengers, surpassing British Airways for the first time.
December 2009: Strike action blocked by court injunction
In December 2009, a ballot for strike action over the Christmas holiday period received a high level of support, but action was blocked by a court injunction deeming the ballot illegal.
2009: Cabin crew strike
After a previous strike in 1997, in 2009 another cabin crew strike occurred.
March 2010: Strike action
In March 2010, negotiations between the parties failed to stop strike action. During the strike, British Airways rescinded on employee benefits to those who participated in the strike.
April 2010: Merger Agreement Confirmed
In April 2010, the merger agreement between British Airways and Iberia was confirmed.
May 2010: Strike action and leaked negotiations
In May 2010, a strike was announced, and British Airways sought an injunction. Derek Simpson, a Unite co-leader, leaked details of confidential negotiations online via Twitter.
September 2010: Consideration of Airline Acquisitions
In September 2010, Willie Walsh, CEO of IAG, announced that the group was considering acquiring other airlines.
October 2010: Alliance Operations Begin
On October 6, 2010, the alliance between British Airways, American Airlines, and Iberia formally began operations.
December 2010: Accounting reference date changed
In December 2010, the accounting reference date was changed from 31 March to 31 December following the merger with Iberia.
2010: "The Flower Duet" appeared in different arrangements
Between 1990 and 2010, "The Flower Duet" appeared in many different arrangements in British Airways advertising.
2010: Less favorable pay and terms and conditions for new employees
In 2010, flight attendants employed by Mixed Fleet began receiving less favorable pay and terms and conditions, compared with cabin staff who joined prior to 2010.
2010: Restructuring of Eurostar management
In 2010, the management of Eurostar was restructured. British Airways owned a 10% stake in InterCapital and Regional Rail (ICRR), the company that managed the operations of Eurostar (UK) Ltd.
January 2011: Merger with Iberia
In January 2011, British Airways merged with Iberia, creating the International Airlines Group (IAG), a holding company registered in Madrid, Spain.
January 2011: Merger Finalized and Establishment of IAG
On January 21, 2011, the merger between British Airways and Iberia was finalized, resulting in the establishment of International Airlines Group (IAG).
November 2011: Agreement to Purchase British Midland International
In November 2011, IAG announced an agreement in principle to purchase British Midland International from Lufthansa.
2011: Brand relaunch project
In 2011, British Airways launched a brand relaunch project, introducing a stylized, metallic version of the arms by For People Design to be used with its Speedmarque logo.
March 2012: Sale of British Midland International Completed
On March 30, 2012, the sale of British Midland International was completed for £172.5 million.
May 2012: Flown Olympic Flame
On May 18, 2012, British Airways flew the Olympic flame from Athens International Airport to RNAS Culdrose.
2012: Acquisition of British Midland International
In 2012, British Airways acquired British Midland International.
2012: Official airline for Summer Olympics and Paralympics
In 2012, British Airways was the official airline and tier one partner of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
August 2014: Decision to continue using flight paths over Iraq
In August 2014, Willie Walsh advised that British Airways would continue to use flight paths over Iraq despite the hostilities there, while other airlines avoided Iraqi airspace.
2014: Sale of stake in Flybe
In 2014, British Airways sold its stake in Flybe.
November 2016: Ballot for industrial action
In November 2016, a ballot for industrial action was distributed to Mixed Fleet crew, resulting in an overwhelmingly majority support for industrial action due to less favorable pay and terms and conditions.
2016: Cancelled strike dates during Christmas holiday
In 2016, first strike dates during the Christmas holiday were cancelled due to ongoing pay negotiations.
January 2017: Industrial action by Mixed Fleet
In January 2017, industrial action by Mixed Fleet started after rejecting the airline's pay offer, leading to one of the longest running disputes in aviation history.
May 2017: Computer Power Failure
On May 27, 2017, British Airways suffered a computer power failure, leading to flight cancellations and affecting thousands of passengers.
September 2017: Introduction of new Comic Relief safety video
On September 1st, 2017, British Airways introduced a new Comic Relief live action safety video hosted by Chabuddy G, featuring British celebrities.
2017: Industrial action by Mixed Fleet
In 2017, industrial action re-emerged, brought on by flight attendants employed by Mixed Fleet, who received less favorable pay and terms and conditions.
September 2018: End of Services to Iran
On 22 September 2018, British Airways ended services to Iran due to the decline in the value of Iranian currency and the reintroduction of U.S. sanctions.
2018: Partnership with Ozwald Boateng
In 2018, British Airways partnered with British tailor and designer Ozwald Boateng to redesign the company's historic uniforms.
2018: Release of Comic Relief "sequel" video
In 2018, British Airways released a "sequel" video to the Comic Relief safety video, also hosted by Chabuddy G, featuring additional British celebrities.
2018: Settlement of data breach class action suit
In 2018, British Airways settled a UK-based class action suit for a data breach.
March 2019: Unveiling of new business-class seats
In March 2019, British Airways unveiled its new business-class seats named Club Suite on the new A350 aircraft which features a suite with a door.
2019: Slot ownership at Heathrow and London City Airports
As of 2019, British Airways owns 50% of the slots available at Heathrow Airport and 52% of the slots at London City Airport.
2019: Announcement of retro liveries to celebrate centenary
In 2019, British Airways announced four retro liveries to celebrate its centenary: three on Boeing 747-400 aircraft in BOAC, Negus & Negus, and Landor Associates liveries, and one A319 in BEA livery.
2019: Centenary Celebrations and Retro Liveries
In 2019, as part of the celebration of its centenary, British Airways announced that four aircraft would receive retro liveries.
April 2020: Plans for Staff Redundancy
On 28 April 2020, British Airways set out plans to make up to 12,000 staff redundant due to the global collapse of air traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 2020: Retirement of 747-400 fleet
In July 2020, British Airways announced the immediate retirement of its entire 747-400 fleet due to the downturn in air travel following the COVID-19 pandemic, to focus on incorporating more modern and fuel-efficient aircraft.
July 2020: Industrial Action Warning
On 28 July 2020, British Airways' cabin crew union issued an "industrial action" warning to prevent 12,000 job cuts and pay cuts.
October 2020: Retirement of 747-400 aircraft fleet
In October 2020, British Airways retired its fleet of 747-400 aircraft.
October 2020: Sean Doyle Appointed CEO
On 12 October 2020, Sean Doyle, CEO of Aer Lingus, succeeded Álex Cruz as CEO of British Airways.
2020: Wi-Fi rollout and buy on board system
By 2020, British Airways expected 90% of its fleet to be Wi-Fi enabled. Also British Airways flights from Heathrow and Gatwick have a buy on board system with a range of food designed by Tom Kerridge.
2020: Shift towards premium offerings
In 2020, British Airways began shifting its focus towards consumers in more expensive classes as a result of a corporate redirection led by CEO Sean Doyle.
2020: Job losses due to COVID-19 pandemic
In 2020, British Airways reduced its workforce by 12,000 jobs due to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Retirement of Aircraft with Landor livery and original 'Union Jack' livery
In 2020, two Boeing 747-400s, one wearing the Landor livery and the other wearing the original "Union Jack" livery, were retired.
2021: Loss due to pandemic
Following a €2.8 billion loss in 2021, the company warned that due to the surge in demand for flying this could lead to more disruption.
2021: State Backed Loan
In 2021, British Airways received an additional £2 billion in a state-backed loan.
March 2022: Reopening at Gatwick
In March 2022, British Airways reopened its operations at Gatwick Airport.
August 2022: Service to 70 countries
As of August 2022, British Airways serves 70 countries, including eight domestic and 27 in the United States.
October 2022: Launch of "A British Original" ad campaign
In October 2022, British Airways launched a new advertising campaign called "A British Original". The campaign was produced by Uncommon Creative Studio and included 500 unique executions and 32 short films, launching alongside Ozwald Boateng's new uniform collection.
2022: Dramatic increase in travel and worker shortage
In 2022, British Airways faced a worker shortage due to a dramatic increase in travel, leading to the cancellation of more than 1,500 flights.
2022: Proposed strike during the summer holiday
In the summer of 2022, Unite and GMB union members backed a proposal to strike during the summer holiday at Heathrow airport, amid staffing shortages and low wages.
February 2023: Return to annual profit
In February 2023, the International Airlines Group, owners of British Airways, announced that the group had returned to making an annual profit of €1.3 billion for the first time since the pandemic.
April 2023: Launch of new safety video as part of "A British Original" campaign
On April 17, 2023, British Airways launched a new safety video as part of "A British Original" campaign, featuring Emma Raducanu, Robert Peston, Little Simz, and Steven Bartlett.
2023: Launch of "A British Original" Collection
In 2023, British Airways launched the new uniform collection "A British Original", designed in partnership with Ozwald Boateng.
2023: Fine for refusing to pay refunds
In 2023, British Airways was required to pay US$1.1 million as the United States government found they refused to pay refunds in a timely manner.
2024: Original phase out date of 747s
In 2020, British Airways announced the immediate retirement of its entire 747-400 fleet, having originally intended to phase out the remaining 747s in 2024.
2024: Damaged letters patent of the arms went up for auction
In 2024, the damaged letters patent of the arms went up for auction online before being withdrawn.
February 2025: Fleet of 274 aircraft with 42 orders
As of February 2025, British Airways operates a fleet of 274 aircraft with 42 orders, including Airbus and Boeing models.
April 2025: Programme rebranded from 'Executive Club' to 'The British Airways Club'
On April 1, 2025, British Airways rebranded its 'Executive Club' program to 'The British Airways Club'. Tier points are now earned based on spending with the airline, and additional tier points are awarded through booking a holiday package or achieving spend thresholds on BA's premium American Express credit card.
May 2025: Incorrect boarding and cancelled return journey
In May 2025, a BBC journalist was incorrectly boarded on their flight by staff under a different name, causing her return journey to be cancelled, which exposed security failures.
2025: Named worst in long-haul flights and loyalty point system change
In 2025, British Airways was named worst in long-haul flights by Which? customer survey. Also in 2025, the company announced a change to their loyalty point system, inciting public backlash.
January 2026: Chief Commercial Officer accompanies Prime Minister
In January 2026, British Airways Chief Commercial Officer Colm Lac accompanied UK Prime Minister Starmer to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss trade, investment and national security.
2050: Intention to eliminate carbon emissions
In 2020, British Airways announced its intention to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050.
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