Who Flew First?

Significant airline anniversaries appear every year, but which airline is the oldest? We examine the claims

- Sarah Hallam

Each year it seems airlines celebrate anniversaries that reflect their long history in the commercial flight business. Air France, for example, is rolling out its latest edition of amenity kits for business and premium economy class in honor of its 85th anniversary.

British Airways is celebrating its centenary in 2019 by announcing plans to paint selected aircraft with retro British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) livery from the 1960s and 1970s.

There’s a reason so many airlines are coming to notable birthdays – commercial aviation started between 1910 to 1920, and many of today’s airlines either started as a result of military action or as crop dusters or mail carriers in the United States.

But when determining a real starting point, there are factors to bear in mind. Primarily, do you consider longest continuous service as one airline, or do you factor in a history of mergers? Does a name change indicate a break in the history and disqualify what could be its founding date?

The various claims all have different justifications, so we have compiled our own list, in alphabetical order.

AEROFLOT

Aeroflot’s predecessor was created by the Labour and Defence Council of Russia on March 17, 1923, and was known a DOBOROLET (The Russian Society for Voluntary Air Fleet). DOBOROLET was a commercial organization created to develop civil aviation for the needs of the Russian national economy. The airline’s first international route was launched on May 1, 1922, between Moscow and Konigsberg, which was part of Germany at the time. The name Aeroflot was adopted in 1932 after the Central Administration of the Civil Air Fleet was founded. aeroflot.ru

AIR FRANCE