British Airways 100th Anniversary

[AMB]

I see British Airways are commemorating a somewhat tenuous '100th Anniversary' this year and are expected to repainted a couple of aircraft in retro schemes, hopefully one in BEA and one in BOAC colours.

The original British Airways Ltd was a British airline company operating in Europe in the period 1935–1939. It was formed in 1935 by the merger of Spartan Air Lines Ltd, United Airways Ltd (no relation to the US carrier United Airlines), and Hillman's Airways. If today’s BA wants to relate to this, that would make them only 89 years old this year. The starting point from which the carrier measures this unlikely longevity is August 25, 1919 – the day a tiny airline called Aircraft Transport and Travel began the world’s first scheduled international air service, from London to Paris. Aircraft Transport and Travel went bankrupt the following year and was merged into the new Daimler Airway, which in turn merged with three airlines in 1924 to form Imperial Airways. In 1939, that airline was incorporated into the British Overseas Airways Corporation, which merged with British European Airways to form the current British Airways, on March 31, 1974. Therefore the current British Airways is only 45 years old this year!

Channel 5 will screen a two-part documentary on the history of BA on 1st May at 2100.

[Abbo46]

Glad to see they're pushing ahead with plans for a couple of retro schemes, very much looking forward to seeing them!

Documentary sounds as if it should be one to look out for as well.

[Craig]

A BOAC Dreamliner or A380 would be quite something!

[Unknown74]

I would imagine it may well be a tad similar to the RAF100 unfortunately with White fuselage, blue underside and a red tail with titles being British Airways 100. Unless as stated the.BOAC Scheme is used in some way but who knows?

[GertrudetheMerciless]

A BOAC Dreamliner or A380 would be quite something!

If they do a BOAC scheme it has to go on a 747. Has to.

[Jakub.Zurek]

A BOAC Dreamliner or A380 would be quite something!

If they do a BOAC scheme it has to go on a 747. Has to.

Yep no question.

[Euan Buchan]

This will be interesting if they repaint some of their aircraft maybe in some of the old colours will be nice.

[Airshowhammer]

Landor A380, would look tops!

[EGLL]

Very tenuous claim indeed. I make them 45 this year.

No doubt they'll paint them during the summer when the light is crap.

[RAF4EVER]

At least KLM has been around for 100 years,they are celebrating their 100th Birthday in October this year.

[Flyer]

A 787 in BEA colours would look good, the nose looks very similar to a Vanguard, well it does to me

[RAF4EVER]

A 787 in BEA colours would look good, the nose looks very similar to a Vanguard, well it does to me

I think the nose on a B787 looks more like a Comet.

[AMB]

A 787 in BEA colours would look good, the nose looks very similar to a Vanguard, well it does to me

Can't imagine BA will bother repainting the wings red though!

[EGLL]

The 747 is 50 this year. Another reason BA are painting them.

[Tommy]

[tweet]http://twitter.com/DaveWallsworth/status/1087328455841275904[/tweet]

[Abbo46]

Oh wow!

[Tom105]

That might just temp me to LHR!

[starbuck]

What's the chances of one or more of these specials making an appearance at RIAT?

[Airshowhammer]

Thats stunning, also worth noting that it’ll be in that scheme till 2023!

[AMB]

The full BA announcement:

"As part of our centenary, we will be painting a Boeing 747 in the much-admired design of our predecessor - British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).
The livery from the 1964-1974 BOAC era - will adorn a B747-400, registration G-BYGC. The aircraft will leave the paint shop in Dublin and arrive in to Heathrow on February 18, before entering service the following day. This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first Boeing 747 flight only a few days earlier.

The BOAC 747 will be the first aircraft to receive a popular design from our past with details of further designs to be revealed in due course. Aircraft which receive the retro liveries will go on to showcase them around our route network.
The BOAC livery will remain on the Boeing 747 until it retires in 2023".

[Brevet Cable]

It'll have to be a quick paint-job - or would it be stickers - then, given that G-BYGC is still operating a standard flight schedule ( currently en-route to JFK )

[ChrisM]

It’s not being painted until mid Feb, normal length paint input rather than stickers etc

[Wissam24]

It’s not being painted until mid Feb, normal length paint input rather than stickers etc

No, it's entering into service after paint on 18 Feb

[cg_341]

10 days, give or take, to paint a 747 based on similar types at Manchester.

[Euan Buchan]

Be nice if they went to the old colours