A - Z UK Airlines

Main base: Gatwick

IATA: FF ICAO: ---

Callsign: -

Historical timeline

31 March 1924
Imperial Airways Ltd was formed following the amalgamation of the four principal British commercial airlines: Handley Page Transport, Instone Air Line, Daimler Airway and British Marine Air Navigation. The new company was intended to provide a unified British air transport network linking Britain with Europe and the wider British Empire.

26 April 1924
After a dispute with pilots delayed the planned 1 April start, Imperial Airways commenced operations. de Havilland DH.34 G-EBCX operated the first service, reopening the Croydon–Paris route.

June 1924
Imperial rapidly expanded its European network, adding services linking Britain with Brussels, Cologne, Amsterdam, Hannover, Berlin, Paris, Basel and Zürich.

1926
The arrival of new Handley Page W.10s, Armstrong Whitworth Argosies and de Havilland DH.66 Hercules marked the beginning of the fleet renewal that would allow Imperial to expand beyond Europe.

January 1927
Imperial Airways operated the inaugural London–Delhi air service using the new DH.66 Hercules City of Delhi. The journey took approximately 65 hours flying time.

1928
Imperial acquired the interests of Cobham-Blackburn Air Lines, allowing it to develop a regular air route towards East and South Africa.

June 1929
Imperial Airways (South Africa) Ltd was established as part of the expansion of Imperial's African network.

28 February 1931
The Imperial Airways African route reached central Africa, initially carrying mail because the available aircraft lacked the payload capability for a full passenger service in tropical conditions.

1931
Imperial conducted experimental services towards Australia, demonstrating the potential for an air route linking Britain with the Far East and Australasia.

27 April 1932
Passenger services were introduced on the England–South Africa route. The journey from Britain to Cape Town remained a lengthy multi-stage operation involving aircraft, railway and flying-boat connections.

1933
The introduction of the Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta provided Imperial with a modern four-engined monoplane for its expanding Empire network.

June 1934
Qantas Empire Airways was established jointly by Imperial Airways and Qantas to operate the route beyond Singapore towards Australia. Imperial also ordered new de Havilland DH.86 Express aircraft for its European and Empire services.

1935
Imperial Airways and Qantas introduced the first regular passenger services linking Britain with Australia. The new service reduced the journey time compared with sea travel, although the high fare meant that passenger traffic remained limited.

1936
Imperial expanded its network further into the Far East, including scheduled services to Hong Kong, while a new West African branch route was developed through Khartoum, Kano and Lagos.

1936
The introduction of the Empire Air Mail Scheme transformed Imperial Airways' role. With government support, the airline ordered 28 new Short S.23 Empire flying boats, providing a new generation of aircraft for Britain's long-distance air-mail and passenger network.

30 October 1936
Short S.23 G-ADHL Canopus operated the first revenue-earning service by an Empire flying boat, between Brindisi and Alexandria.

March 1937
Imperial Airways opened its new flying-boat base at Hythe, Southampton Water. Empire services from Croydon were progressively transferred to the new marine terminal.

1937
Imperial Airways began an extensive programme of transatlantic trials in cooperation with Pan American Airways. Although the flights demonstrated that an Atlantic flying-boat service was technically possible, aircraft performance limitations prevented an immediate full commercial service.

27 May 1937
Imperial and Pan American began a joint Bermuda–New York service, establishing a regular transatlantic connection while longer-range aircraft were developed.

1937–1938
Imperial extended its Empire network to additional destinations in Africa and Asia. New Empire flying boats enabled faster and more reliable long-distance services.

July 1938
The Short S.23 Empire flying boats reached Australia on the through Empire route, providing a major milestone in the development of Britain's intercontinental air network.

August 1938
Tasman Empire Airways (TEAL) was established by Imperial Airways, Qantas and the New Zealand Government to operate services across the Tasman Sea, completing another link in the developing Commonwealth air network.

1938
Imperial introduced its final-generation land aircraft, including the Armstrong Whitworth Ensign and de Havilland DH.91 Albatross, while continuing to expand the Empire flying-boat network.

1939
The outbreak of the Second World War resulted in Imperial Airways' civil operations being increasingly integrated with Britain's wartime transport requirements. The Government also began preparations for the creation of a new national overseas air corporation.

1939–1940
Negotiations took place for the amalgamation of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd into a new state-owned corporation.

1 April 1940
Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd were formally amalgamated to create British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Imperial Airways therefore ceased to exist after sixteen years as Britain's principal long-distance airline.

HQ: Blackbushe / Bournemouth

IATA: -- ICAO: ---

Callsign: -

Main base: East Midlands Airport (EMA)

IATA: -- ICAO: ---

Callsign: -

Main base: East Midlands Airport (EMA)

IATA: QT ICAO: CIT

Callsign: ALIDAIR

Main base: Cardiff (CWL / EGFF)

IATA: IP ICAO: IEA

Callsign: ASPRO

Main base: Jersey (JER / EGJJ)

IATA: JY ICAO: ---

Callsign: -

Main base: RAF Manston (MSE / EGMH)

IATA: IM ICAO: ---

Callsign: INVICTA

Main base: RAF Manston (MSE / EGMH)

IATA: IM ICAO: ---

Callsign: INVICTA