British vintage                          (Industry)  

British Airways is celebrating its 90th anniversary this month with an exhibition and the help of crystal supremo producer, Swarovski and sparkly presenter, Kirsty Gallacher. Abigail Parkin (27 Aug'09)

The global aviation industry might have been hit hard by the economic gloom but British Airways' mood was distinctly Julien Macdonald glam (incidentally, sometime designer of the airline's staff uniforms) as it took delivery of a giant bejewelled Union Flag at Terminal 5. Visitors to British Airways' arrivals lounge will be greeted by the 4ft by 2ft artwork (below) which is embossed with more than 126,000 crystallised Swarovski Elements.

An internal exhibition presents memorabilia from nine decades of travel, while customers at Terminal 5 have been treated to cabin crew and TV personality Kirsty Gallacher (below) modelling vintage uniforms in the terminal in the run up to its anniversary week. 

Paying tribute to the airline, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "British Airways has never lost the pioneering spirit and vision that saw it take to the skies with the world's first daily international flight from London to Paris on this day in 1919.

"Ninety years on, the world's most iconic airline is still proudly flying the flag and remains a great British brand. Many congratulations to all its staff - past and present, on this special day."

HM Queen Elizabeth II arrives at London Airport

"Over the past nine decades, British Airways has played its part in many historic episodes," said British Airways' chairman Martin Broughton(left).

"We provided the first air links to far-flung capitals in the days of empire, flew Winston Churchill across the Atlantic during wartime, brought Queen Elizabeth back to Britain after the passing of George VI, repeatedly led the way with aircraft innovation and have often proudly transported home our sports teams from success overseas.

"We have a rich history supporting Britain and will carry this forward to our centenary and beyond."

Bygone era - First class in 1960 aboard Boeing 707

Of course, those earliest days as a passenger defined status and on August 25, 1919 George Stevenson-Reece became the first fare-paying passenger on a scheduled international flight. The route was Hounslow Heath to Le Bourget Airport in Paris in a single Rolls-Royce engined Airco DeHavilland 4A, piloted by Captain E.H. Lawford. Flying time was more than three times what it is today at 2 hours 30 minutes. The fare, too, was multiplied and Mr Stevenson-Reece's 42 guineas return would be the equivalent of £1,706 today. 

Early incarnation of BA - World's first jet service from London Airport to Johannesburg