British Airways (BA) is the UK’s flag carrier airline. Formed in 1974, it has been a turbulent ride fighting to remain at the top. But now, it’s one of the most successful airlines in the world and in 2021 it’s still going strong. It was even the first passenger airline to have generated more than $1 billion on a single route in one year!
Contact SkyClub today to experience the luxuries that this airline offers first-hand. We’ve also compiled this article to take you on a whistle-stop tour of its creation:
Where it all started
Right from the start, London Heathrow has been BA’s central hub and London Gatwick its second. 1976 marks the moment where BA acquired the supersonic Concorde. With the ability to take off at 250mph and cruise at 1350mph, BA were able to offer flights taking a fraction of the time they used to – opening a whole new opportunity for people.
The fastest recorded Concorde flight took place between New York and London on February 7 1996, in a jaw-dropping 2 hours 52 minutes and 59 seconds!
The development
The privatisation of the airline in the 1980’s improved the competitiveness and allowed BA to survive a pitched battle with Virgin Atlantic – a rivalry that still stands true today. Calling itself ‘The World’s Favourite Airline’, BA was not backing down.
It went on to burst into the French Market by buying a 49.9% stake in TAT European Airlines and 70% of Air Liberté. This was a bold move by BA – challenging the recognised dominance of Air France was not for the faint hearted.
The Concorde was withdrawn in the early 2000’s and BA moved its primary hub to Heathrow. In the years following, they went on to acquire a number of smaller carriers – a key driver of their monumental success.
BA signed a franchise agreement with GB Airways in 1995 until 2010, with all aircraft to be operated under the BA brand. GB Airways sold to EasyJet in 2007 which proved huge competition for BA and EasyJet subsequently displaced BA’s position as the largest UK airline (based upon passenger numbers). With evolving demand and increased travel, BA continued to face huge domestic competition from budget airlines who offered a no-frills alternative to traditional carriers, such as themselves. As people cottoned on to the attraction of a ‘weekend getaway’, these low-cost competitors really took hold. It didn’t stop there either. Modern developments such as the Eurostar stood as yet another alternative for some short routes.
BA merged with Iberia Airlines in 2010 to create the third largest airline in the world based on revenue, giving BA real power to push forward in a tremendously crowded market.
BA as we know it
The turn of the 21st century saw the introduction of lie-flat beds and on-board entertainment systems, as well as ever-evolving menus to suit the modern palette. The thing I find most exciting? Recently, British Airways has rebranded their business class service as ‘Club World’, offering premium levels of service, such as a 79” fully flat bed and luxurious bedding from The White Company.
If you fancy experiencing the fabulous BA of today, contact our SkyClub experts now and you’ll be taking off before you know it!
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