British Airways 100 years in exclusive and glorious colour

AirlineRatings.com celebrates 100 years of British Airways and its formation airlines in colour in these exclusive images of the interiors of its fleet from the late 1930s through to the 1960s. Many of these images are colourized by famous French colourist Beniot Vienne. SEE our tribute to Concorde

Balancing matches on a coke bottle to show how smooth travel was on a Bristol Britannia. Photo: British Airways colourized by Benoit Vienne

Taking a letter on a Shorts Flying Boat in 1939. Photo: British Airways colourized by Benoit Vienne

Relaxing on a Lockheed Constellation in the 1950s. Photo: British Airways colourized by Benoit Vienne

Balancing cards to highlight the smoothness of jet travel. Photo: British Airways colourized by Benoit Vienne

"What can we offer you?" Photo: British Airways colourized by Benoit Vienne

Photo: British Airways colourized by Benoit Vienne

Austere interior of an Avro Lancastrian which was used to re-open routes in 1945. Photo: BA colourized by Benoit Vienne

This is more like it! Bedtime on a Boeing Stratocruiser. Photo: BA colourized by Benoit Vienne

Coffee or tea on a Vickers Viscount in the 1950s. Photo: BA colourized by Benoit Vienne

Downstairs lounge on a Boeing Stratocruiser. Photo: BA colourized by Benoit Vienne

A collection from the airline’s archives is being hosted on a special website and includes photographs from key moments in its history from the launch of BA ancestor Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited on August 25, 1919. The digital collection includes images and videos of aircraft throughout the decades, including the De Havilland DH106 Comet 4, the Boeing 747-136 and the iconic Concorde. They join close-up photographs of uniforms worn by generations of cabin crew and pilots as well as behind-the-scenes memorabilia from Royal and Olympic flights as well as Concorde artefacts. “Air travel has always been about connecting people around the world, and this website will share the stories, achievements and memories of 100 years of British Airways history,” BA chief executive Alex Cruz said. “Since 1919, British Airways and its forerunners pioneered commercial air travel, and our Centenary Archive Collection will continue to evolve as we look forward to the next 100 years of aviation.”