note

Flag carrier of United Kingdom came to being when BOAC and BEA merged in September 1972. Trading name British Airways was adopted in in April 1974. There was pre-war era British Airways which was formed in 1935 and operated in Europe only. This British Airways was merged by government decree with Imperial Airways (long-haul airline formed in March 1924) and new airline was called BOAC. In August 1946 British European Airways was formed as European division of BOAC. January 21 1976, supersonic flights commenced using Concorde between London and Bahrain. British Airways inherited fleet of BOAC (747s , VC10's and 707s) and BEA (Viscounts, Vanguards, Tridents and BAC 111s) and the Concorde was its first new type. Tridents and Viscounts were replaced with 737s and 757s. In 1984 BA introduced new conservative livery as the company was being privatized. British Airways has become something of a World's Airline as it operates on all continents and serves over 60 countries. It has introduced "World's Favourite Airline" company slogan and used worlds graphic patterns on its aircraft horizontal stabilizers during the 1990s. In March 2000 BA acquired 9% stake in Iberia. In April 2010, Iberia and BA merged into one company International Airlines Group registered in Spain with headquarters in London. British Airways holding company IAG (International Airlines Group) announced in December 2011 that it will acquire bmi for £172.5m from Lufthansa and integrate its operations into its mainline. BA has also absorbed bmi baby and bmi regional but had no plans for the two and they were phased out. British Asia Airways was a "subsidiary" formed in March 1993, based in Taiwan, to operate between London and Taipei via Hong Kong.This was due to political sensitivities, as national airlines operating flights to the People's Republic of China were not permitted to fly to Taiwan.Similar arrangements were made by other airlines, such as Japan Airlines ,Qantas, KLM, Swissair and Air France. British Asia Airways ceased operations in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

founded - demised (age)

September 1 1972 - present  (53years)

headquarters

Waterside, Heathrow Airport, London

web

www.britishairways.com

base airports

EGLL Heathrow London	hub, maintenance
EGFF Glamorgan Cardiff	maintenance
EGKK Gatwick London	hub

related operators

BOAC	predecessor
BEA - British European Airways	predecessor
Deutsche BA	subsidiary 1992
TAT European Airlines	subsidiary 1996
Caledonian Airways (1988)	charter subsidiary
Loganair	franchise 1994
Dan-Air London	acquired assets 1992
Brymon Airways	franchise 1993
CityFlyer Express	subsidiary
Maersk Air UK Ltd	subsidiary
BASE Business Airlines	subsidiary 1999
British Mediterranean Airways	subsidiary 1997
British Airtours	charter subsidiary
British Caledonian Airways	aquired 1989
Air Liberte	subsidiary 1996
British Midland International	acquired 2012
Iberia	merged 2010
GB Airways	franchise
Go Fly	Low Cost Carrier
Oneworld	member