British Airways was formed on March 31, 1974, when two state airlines merged: BOAC and BEA. Its family tree reaches back much further in time. On August 25, 1919, an ancestor called Aircraft Transport and Travel flew the world's first scheduled international air service, from London to Paris. Another ancestor, Imperial Airways, opened long empire routes to Africa, India, and Australia during the 1920s and 1930s.
BOAC flew the world's first jet airliner service in 1952 with the de Havilland Comet. British Airways and Air France launched Concorde together in 1976. It crossed the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound for 27 years, until 2003. Margaret Thatcher's government sold the airline to private owners in 1987. BA then called itself the world's favourite airline. It bought British Caledonian in 1988 and Dan-Air in 1992.
In 1999 BA helped found the oneworld alliance, a group of airlines that link flights. A 2011 merger with Spain's Iberia created International Airlines Group, which later added Aer Lingus, Vueling, and Level. Heathrow is BA's main base. It has Europe's largest transatlantic network, run with American Airlines. It has carried royalty, prime ministers, and the Olympic flame. Seven billion pounds is funding new cabins, lounges, and technology.