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Boeing 707-300 - British Airtours
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British Airways
British Airways plc (LSE: BAY) is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in Waterside near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport and is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations. Its second hub is London Gatwick Airport. British Airways has discontinued all direct overseas flights from UK airports other than Heathrow and Gatwick (and London City Airport from September 2009). BA's UK passengers originating at non-London airports must now connect via London or use other airlines with direct services.[1]
The British Airways Group was formed on 1 September 1974 through nationalisation by the Labour Government of the time. BA was formed from two large London-based airlines, BOAC and BEA, and two much smaller regional airlines, Cambrian Airways Cardiff and Northeast Airlines Newcastle upon Tyne. All four companies were dissolved on 31 March 1974 to form British Airways (BA) and almost thirteen years later, in February 1987, the company was privatised. The carrier soon expanded with the acquisition of British Caledonian in 1988 and Gatwick-based carrier Dan-Air in 1992. Despite being a primarily Boeing customer, British Airways placed a major order for Airbus aircraft in November 1998 with the purchase of 89 A320 Family aircraft. In 2007, the carrier placed its next major order, marking the start of its long haul fleet replacement, ordering Airbus A380s and Boeing 787s. The centrepiece of the airline's long haul fleet is the Boeing 747-400; with 55 examples, British Airways is the largest operator of the type in the world.
The formation of Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984 began a tense relationship with BA. In 1993, the fierce rivalry led to "one of the most bitter and protracted libel actions in aviation history" in which British Airways apologised "unreservedly" for a “dirty tricks” campaign against Virgin leading to them paying damages and legal costs.[2] Until 2008 British Airways was the largest airline of the United Kingdom, measured by passenger numbers. In 2008 the airline carried 35.7 million passengers.[3] Rival United Kingdom carrier EasyJet carried 44.5 million passengers in the same year, taking the title from British Airways.[4]
British Airways is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.[5] On 31 March 2009 the airline celebrated its 35th anniversary.
British Airways plc (LSE: BAY) is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in Waterside near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport and is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations. Its second hub is London Gatwick Airport. British Airways has discontinued all direct overseas flights from UK airports other than Heathrow and Gatwick (and London City Airport from September 2009). BA's UK passengers originating at non-London airports must now connect via London or use other airlines with direct services.[1]
The British Airways Group was formed on 1 September 1974 through nationalisation by the Labour Government of the time. BA was formed from two large London-based airlines, BOAC and BEA, and two much smaller regional airlines, Cambrian Airways Cardiff and Northeast Airlines Newcastle upon Tyne. All four companies were dissolved on 31 March 1974 to form British Airways (BA) and almost thirteen years later, in February 1987, the company was privatised. The carrier soon expanded with the acquisition of British Caledonian in 1988 and Gatwick-based carrier Dan-Air in 1992. Despite being a primarily Boeing customer, British Airways placed a major order for Airbus aircraft in November 1998 with the purchase of 89 A320 Family aircraft. In 2007, the carrier placed its next major order, marking the start of its long haul fleet replacement, ordering Airbus A380s and Boeing 787s. The centrepiece of the airline's long haul fleet is the Boeing 747-400; with 55 examples, British Airways is the largest operator of the type in the world.
The formation of Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984 began a tense relationship with BA. In 1993, the fierce rivalry led to "one of the most bitter and protracted libel actions in aviation history" in which British Airways apologised "unreservedly" for a “dirty tricks” campaign against Virgin leading to them paying damages and legal costs.[2] Until 2008 British Airways was the largest airline of the United Kingdom, measured by passenger numbers. In 2008 the airline carried 35.7 million passengers.[3] Rival United Kingdom carrier EasyJet carried 44.5 million passengers in the same year, taking the title from British Airways.[4]
British Airways is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.[5] On 31 March 2009 the airline celebrated its 35th anniversary.
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