Passenger airlines developments post WW2 timeline. by Erinn Vincent

BOAC (British Overseas Air Corporation) (1946)

100225154 — 2025-10-07 13:47:15 UTC

The BOAC is a British state-owned national airline formed in 1939 from two different airlines, Imperial airways and British Airways Ltd. In post-WW2 Britain the BOAC split to include two more state run airlines BEA (British European Airways) and BSAA (British South American Airlines). The fleet that the airline had was comprised of ex-military aircraft, the airline company ordered American aircraft to manage the flights across the Atlantic.

Concorde (1969)

100225154 — 2025-10-07 14:39:18 UTC

The Concorde was the first supersonic commercial airplane that was built by manufactures in France and Great Britain as collaborative project to compete with the US and USSR for supersonic transport. After the Concorde's debut it's impact on the development of British passenger airlines led to the creation of the European Airbus and commercialising supersonic travel.

DC-10 (1970s)

100225154 — 2025-10-07 14:40:32 UTC

The DC-10 is an American trijet manufactured by McDonnell Douglas as response to the increased demand for long-range, wide-body aircraft in the late 1960s. The impact the DC-10 had on British airlines by producing more low cost aircraft models, the plane body was wider than the narrower plane models that where being used at the time which improved comfort for passengers.

Boeing 747 (1970)

100225154 — 2025-10-07 14:40:49 UTC

The Boeing 747 is a wide fuselage commercial jet airliner, the 747 had it's first flight in 1970 and 1554 Boeings where built. British Airways is a primary operator of the 747; the aircraft model forced the development for more spacious passenger aircraft suited for long-haul travel and more affordable fares. There also where some technological advances in navigation such as an advanced INS (Inertial navigation system) which is constantly being developed.

A380 airbus (2007)

100225154 — 2025-10-07 14:41:17 UTC

The A380 is the largest passenger aircraft built that can hold over 850 passengers, the airbus entered service on October 25th 2007. Developments made to British passenger aircraft include the advancement in fuel efficiency, the engines where manufactured by the luxury car brand Rolls-Royce (the company has made engines for war aircraft in WW1 and WW2), the technological advancements made to aircraft engines helps reduce noise levels and reducing the CO2 emissions.

B787 (2009)

100225154 — 2025-10-07 14:41:40 UTC

The Boeing 787 is wide-body, medium-sized commercial aircraft which was developed by an American manufacturer Boeing Commercial Airlines from 2004, it's first maiden flight was in 2009 December 15th. The first passenger flight for this aircraft was in 2011 for ANA (Japanese airline All Nippon Airways).

The impact that the B787 had on British passenger airlines was the interior design of the B787 having mood lighting and dimming switches and there are turbulence countering sensors. Virgin Atlantic have introduced new technologies as a result of the B787's success, there was improved in-flight Wi-Fi.

De-regulation of the airlines (Mid 1980s-1997)

100225154 — 2025-10-07 14:42:14 UTC

The de-regulation of airlines is where government control is removed over aspects of air travel like market entry, routes and fares. This started in the US with The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the UK started the de-regulation of airlines in the mid-1980s and was completed in 1997.

How the de-regulation of airlines affected British passenger airlines is by lowering the fares for passengers especially on routes like the UK-Ireland link, private ownership and to operate more commercial airlines. However there was increased congestion at airports and in the air and there has been a decline of regional airlines.