• The final British Airways Concorde flight lifts off from John F Kennedy Airport in New York on its final voyage to London, on October 24, 2003. AFP
    The final British Airways Concorde flight lifts off from John F Kennedy Airport in New York on its final voyage to London, on October 24, 2003. AFP
  • The Royal Air Force Aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, and a British Airways Boeing 747 at 2019 Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Britain, on July 20, 2019. EPA / RAF
    The Royal Air Force Aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, and a British Airways Boeing 747 at 2019 Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Britain, on July 20, 2019. EPA / RAF
  • Concorde pictured at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi in July 1974. Courtesy: Peter Alvis
    Concorde pictured at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi in July 1974. Courtesy: Peter Alvis
  • A BOAC Boeing 707 taxing to its terminal gate as two Vickers VC10 long-range narrow-body four engined commercial jet airliners for the British Overseas Airways Corporation are refuelled at London Heathrow airport on October 22, 1968 in London. Getty Images
    A BOAC Boeing 707 taxing to its terminal gate as two Vickers VC10 long-range narrow-body four engined commercial jet airliners for the British Overseas Airways Corporation are refuelled at London Heathrow airport on October 22, 1968 in London. Getty Images
  • A British Airways Airbus A380. Courtesy British Airways
    A British Airways Airbus A380. Courtesy British Airways
  • The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Short Sandringham passenger flying boat a demilitarised conversions of the Short Sunderland military flying boat taxing for its maiden flight from the Short Brothers facility on 28 November 1945 at Rochester, United Kingdom. Getty Images
    The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Short Sandringham passenger flying boat a demilitarised conversions of the Short Sunderland military flying boat taxing for its maiden flight from the Short Brothers facility on 28 November 1945 at Rochester, United Kingdom. Getty Images
  • A British Airways plane touches down in Phoenix in the US in 1996 with its Landor livery. Courtesy British Airways
    A British Airways plane touches down in Phoenix in the US in 1996 with its Landor livery. Courtesy British Airways
  • British Airways Concorde Flight 1215 passes through a water display provided by the Massport Fire Rescue Department after arriving at Logan International Airport from London on October 8, 2003 in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston was one of only three North American cities, including Washington, DC and Toronto, to receive a special farewell visit from the Concorde before the supersonic fleet was taken out of service. Getty Images / AFP
    British Airways Concorde Flight 1215 passes through a water display provided by the Massport Fire Rescue Department after arriving at Logan International Airport from London on October 8, 2003 in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston was one of only three North American cities, including Washington, DC and Toronto, to receive a special farewell visit from the Concorde before the supersonic fleet was taken out of service. Getty Images / AFP
  • A British Airways Boeing 747 passenger plane in historic BOAC livery. EPA
    A British Airways Boeing 747 passenger plane in historic BOAC livery. EPA
  • Aviation pioneer Sir Alan Cobham (1894 - 1973, left) with Air Vice Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett (1910 - 1986), Chief Executive of British South American Airways, in front of a converted Lancaster bomber at Heathrow Airport, UK, 28th May 1947. J Wilds / Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
    Aviation pioneer Sir Alan Cobham (1894 - 1973, left) with Air Vice Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett (1910 - 1986), Chief Executive of British South American Airways, in front of a converted Lancaster bomber at Heathrow Airport, UK, 28th May 1947. J Wilds / Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
  • Miss Dorothy West, a hostess on a British European Airways, Viking, photographed at Northolt, Northolt. Year unknown. Getty Images
    Miss Dorothy West, a hostess on a British European Airways, Viking, photographed at Northolt, Northolt. Year unknown. Getty Images
  • The British European Airways (BEA) Vickers Viscount medium-range four engined turboprop commercial airliner circa 1960. Fox Photos / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
    The British European Airways (BEA) Vickers Viscount medium-range four engined turboprop commercial airliner circa 1960. Fox Photos / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
  • The earliest production de Havilland DH-106 Comet 1 four engined pressurised passenger jet airliner registration G-ALYP of the British Overseas Airways Corporation flying above the United Kingdom with the first prototype Ministry of Supply Comet DH106 G-ALVG during trials on 4th April 1951. Central Press / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
    The earliest production de Havilland DH-106 Comet 1 four engined pressurised passenger jet airliner registration G-ALYP of the British Overseas Airways Corporation flying above the United Kingdom with the first prototype Ministry of Supply Comet DH106 G-ALVG during trials on 4th April 1951. Central Press / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
  • A British Airways special liveried Boeing 747 takes to the skies alongside the Red Arrows during the 2019 Royal International Air Tattoo on July 20, 2019 at RAF Fairford, England. The Boeing 747 has been painted in the airline's predecessor British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) livery to mark British Airways' centenary this year. Getty Images for British Airways
    A British Airways special liveried Boeing 747 takes to the skies alongside the Red Arrows during the 2019 Royal International Air Tattoo on July 20, 2019 at RAF Fairford, England. The Boeing 747 has been painted in the airline's predecessor British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) livery to mark British Airways' centenary this year. Getty Images for British Airways
  • British aircraft engineer Geoffrey de Havilland (1882 - 1965, centre) hands over the articles of a new Comet IV jet airliner to Sir Gerard d'Erlanger (right), Chairman of BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation), at London Airport, 30th September 1958. On the left is Aubrey F Burke, Managing Director of the de Havilland Aircraft Manufacturing Company. J Wilds / Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
    British aircraft engineer Geoffrey de Havilland (1882 - 1965, centre) hands over the articles of a new Comet IV jet airliner to Sir Gerard d'Erlanger (right), Chairman of BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation), at London Airport, 30th September 1958. On the left is Aubrey F Burke, Managing Director of the de Havilland Aircraft Manufacturing Company. J Wilds / Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
  • 22nd November 1977: Captain Brian Walpole smiles from the cockpit of Concorde, having flown from London to New York on its first commercial flight. Brian Alpert / Keystone / Getty Images
    22nd November 1977: Captain Brian Walpole smiles from the cockpit of Concorde, having flown from London to New York on its first commercial flight. Brian Alpert / Keystone / Getty Images
  • Spectators watch the last ever British Airways commercial Concorde flight touch down at Heathrow airport on October 24, 2003 in London. Getty Images
    Spectators watch the last ever British Airways commercial Concorde flight touch down at Heathrow airport on October 24, 2003 in London. Getty Images
  • Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident 1C medium-range commercial jet airliners for British European Airways (BEA) lined up at de Havillands Hatfield Aerodrome following a Far East sales drive on October 29, 1963 in London. Getty Images
    Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident 1C medium-range commercial jet airliners for British European Airways (BEA) lined up at de Havillands Hatfield Aerodrome following a Far East sales drive on October 29, 1963 in London. Getty Images
  • April 1946: Miss B Midgley of Northolt aerodrome stands under the nose of a BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) aircraft. She was one of ten 'air traffic girls' currently taking part in a course at Hurn airport, to learn how to deal professionally with passengers. Getty Images
    April 1946: Miss B Midgley of Northolt aerodrome stands under the nose of a BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) aircraft. She was one of ten 'air traffic girls' currently taking part in a course at Hurn airport, to learn how to deal professionally with passengers. Getty Images
  • A Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident 2E registration G-AVFF and a Trident 3B registration G-AWZJ medium-range commercial jet airliners for British European Airways (BEA) lined up at their passenger terminal gates at London Heathrow airport on May 1, 1975 in London. Getty Images
    A Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident 2E registration G-AVFF and a Trident 3B registration G-AWZJ medium-range commercial jet airliners for British European Airways (BEA) lined up at their passenger terminal gates at London Heathrow airport on May 1, 1975 in London. Getty Images
  • Concorde arrives at its final destination at The Museum of Flight, April 19, 2004 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty Images
    Concorde arrives at its final destination at The Museum of Flight, April 19, 2004 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty Images
  • A mass meeting that took place at London Airport during a strike by 4,000 British Overseas Airways Corporation engineers, on October 16, 1958. Getty Images
    A mass meeting that took place at London Airport during a strike by 4,000 British Overseas Airways Corporation engineers, on October 16, 1958. Getty Images
  • The second Anglo-French supersonic airliner, Concorde 002, at the British Aircraft Corporation's airfield at Filton, Bristol where it was construtcted. 002 is identical to Concorde 001, which was assembled in France, containing the same French and British built parts. Getty Images
    The second Anglo-French supersonic airliner, Concorde 002, at the British Aircraft Corporation's airfield at Filton, Bristol where it was construtcted. 002 is identical to Concorde 001, which was assembled in France, containing the same French and British built parts. Getty Images
  • A British Airways flight from London arrives in Gibraltar on September 11, 2018. Getty Images
    A British Airways flight from London arrives in Gibraltar on September 11, 2018. Getty Images
  • A British Airways Airbus aircraft flies over the Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace during the London 2012 Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes on September 10, 2012 in London. Getty Images
    A British Airways Airbus aircraft flies over the Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace during the London 2012 Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes on September 10, 2012 in London. Getty Images
  • A British Airways plane flying past the moon on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2012 in London. Getty Images
    A British Airways plane flying past the moon on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2012 in London. Getty Images
  • A British Airways plane taxis from Heathrow's Terminal 5 on October 25, 2016 in London. Getty Images
    A British Airways plane taxis from Heathrow's Terminal 5 on October 25, 2016 in London. Getty Images
  • A British Airways plane makes its way towards City Airport, passing over the Shard building on February 14, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images
    A British Airways plane makes its way towards City Airport, passing over the Shard building on February 14, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images
  • British Overseas Airways Corporation de Havilland DH-106 Comet 1 four engined pressurised passenger jet airliner registration G-ALYP taking off from London Heathrow airport on the world's first commercial jetliner flight with fare-paying passengers to Johannesburg, South Africa on May 2, 1952. Getty Images
    British Overseas Airways Corporation de Havilland DH-106 Comet 1 four engined pressurised passenger jet airliner registration G-ALYP taking off from London Heathrow airport on the world's first commercial jetliner flight with fare-paying passengers to Johannesburg, South Africa on May 2, 1952. Getty Images
  • Circa 1955: Passengers crossing the runway at Berlin's Tempelhof Airport to board a British European Airways flight. Getty Images
    Circa 1955: Passengers crossing the runway at Berlin's Tempelhof Airport to board a British European Airways flight. Getty Images
  • A British Aircraft Corporation Super One-Eleven 500 short-range commercial jet airliner (BAC 1-11 ) for British European Airways (BEA) registration G-AVMH County of Cheshire flying above the United Kingdom circa June 1967. Getty Images
    A British Aircraft Corporation Super One-Eleven 500 short-range commercial jet airliner (BAC 1-11 ) for British European Airways (BEA) registration G-AVMH County of Cheshire flying above the United Kingdom circa June 1967. Getty Images
  • The Vickers-Armstrongs Vickers Viscount 700 prototype medium-range commercial turboprop airliner for British European Airways (BEA) registration G-AMAV flying somewhere above the United Kingdom on April 18, 1953. Getty Images
    The Vickers-Armstrongs Vickers Viscount 700 prototype medium-range commercial turboprop airliner for British European Airways (BEA) registration G-AMAV flying somewhere above the United Kingdom on April 18, 1953. Getty Images
  • A converted Avro Lancaster heavy bomber the Avro 683 Lancastrian MkI passenger airliner of the BOAC - British Overseas Airways Corporation registration G-AGMO flying above the United Kingdom circa 1946. Getty Images
    A converted Avro Lancaster heavy bomber the Avro 683 Lancastrian MkI passenger airliner of the BOAC - British Overseas Airways Corporation registration G-AGMO flying above the United Kingdom circa 1946. Getty Images

British Airways at 100: the airline pictured through the years

August 25 marks the airline's centenary, so we take a look back through the archives at some of its best images

Ian Oxborrow
Ian Oxborrow

August 25, 2019

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British Airways is celebrating 100 years of flying.

While thousands of its passengers aren't in the mood for balloons and bunting after the airline incorrectly advised travellers that their upcoming flights were cancelled, the occasion nonetheless has been marked with full fanfare this weekend by British Airways (BA).

BA's journey started on August 25, 1919 when the first international flight by the airline’s predecessor, Air Transport & Travel (AT&T) operated from Hounslow Heath (near to where Heathrow Airport is now) to Paris with a single-engine De Havilland DH4A aircraft.

To commemorate that first service the aircraft that was painted in the original British European Airways’ (BEA) livery earlier this year will operate the BA314 service to Paris Charles de Gaulle on Sunday, before flying around the airline’s UK network throughout the rest of the bank holiday weekend.

Those flying on short-haul services will be treated to Hotel Chocolat giveaways, while on long-haul flights customers will be served menus from Michelin-starred British chef, Tom Kerridge. Those in First and Club World receive special edition centenary amenity kits.

BA launched four heritage aircraft earlier this year, starting with the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) livery on a Boeing 747, which flew between 1952 and 1974.

This was followed the airline’s British European Airways heritage on an A319, which flew predominantly on European and domestic routes between 1959 and 1968. Two B747s received the Negus livery (1974 to 1980) and Landor (1984 to 1997).

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