History of British Airways

British Airways (BA) is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom. It is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations. British Airways was considered the largest UK airline by passenger numbers from its creation in 1974 until 2008, when it was displaced by low-cost rival EasyJet. Since its inception, British Airways has been centred at its main hub at London Heathrow Airport, with a second major hub at London Gatwick Airport.

The British Airways Board was formed in 1971 to control the policy and finances of the two large London-based airline corporations, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and British European Airways Corporation (BEA) with two much smaller regional airlines, Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines. British Airways acquired the supersonic Concorde in 1976, operating it on transatlantic services. The same year it assumed sole operation of international flights to North America and Southeast Asia from rival British Caledonian. The formation of Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984 began a tense rivalry, which led to "one of the most bitter and protracted libel actions in aviation history". Under the leadership of Chairman Sir John King and CEO Colin Marshall, British Airways was privatised in February 1987, almost thirteen years after its formation, and effected the controversial takeover of British Caledonian in July 1987.

Following privatisation, British Airways entered a period of rapid and unprecedented growth, leading to the use of the slogan "The World's Favourite Airline", and dominated its domestic rivals during the early 1990s. Faced with increased competition and higher costs in the mid-1990s, CEO Bob Ayling led a restructuring effort, leading to trade union clashes; the carrier also invested in regional European airlines, courted international airline partnerships, and attempted a controversial ethnic livery rebranding campaign. In the early 2000s (decade), CEO Rod Eddington implemented further cost cuts, the retirement of Concorde, and the removal of ethnic liveries. Under Willie Walsh, who became CEO in 2005, British Airways faced a price-fixing scandal, moved its primary hub to Heathrow Terminal 5, and experienced threats of industrial action, leading to a strike in March 2010. On 8 April 2010, it was confirmed that British Airways and Iberia Airlines had agreed to a merger, forming the International Airlines Group, although BA would continue to operate under its current brand. The combined airline will become the world's third-largest carrier (after Delta Air Lines and American Airlines) in terms of annual revenue.

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