What are the oldest airlines in the world that are still flying?
Earlier this week I shared a heartwarming British Airways video that celebrates the life of a 99-year old woman while also recognizing BA’s 99th anniversary. That got me thinking about the oldest airlines still flying.
As it turns out, calling BA 99 years old is a topic of debate. Daimler Airway was established in 1919. It later merged with Imperial Airways which merged with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which eventually became British Airways. In its current form, BA was founded in 1974. BA is therefore not on my list below. My list below includes airlines that have operated more or less continuously since their inception. Names may have changed, but companies remain intact.
10. Iberia
Founding Date: June 28, 1927
Country: Spain
Airline Code: IB
> Read More: Iberia A330-200 Business Class Madrid to Los Angeles Review
9. Air Serbia
Founding Date: June 17, 1927
Country: Serbia
Airline Code: JU
> Read More: Air Serbia A330 Business Class Belgrade to New York Review
8. Tajik Air
Founding Date: September 3, 1924
Country: Tajikistan
Airline Code: 7J
7. Delta Air Lines
Founding Date: May 30, 1924
Country: United States
Airline Code: DL
> Read More: Delta 767-300 Business Class Honolulu to Los Angeles
6. Finnair
Founding Date: November 1, 1923
Country: Finland
Airline Code: AY
> Read More: Finnair A350 Business Class Helsinki to Beijing Review
5. Czech Airlines
Founding Date: October 6, 1923
Country: Czech Republic
Airline Code: OK
4. Aeroflot
Founding Date: March 17, 1923
Country: Russia
Airline Code: SU
> Read More: This is Why I Love Aeroflot
3. Qantas
Founding Date: November 16, 1920
Country: Australia
Airline Code: QF
> Read More: Qantas A380 First Class Review
2. Avianca
Founding Date: December 5, 1919
Country: Colombia
Airline Code: AV
> Read More: Avianca 757 Economy Class Bogota to Lima Review
1. KLM
Founding date: October 7, 1919
Country: Netherlands
Airline Code: KL
> Read More: San Francisco to Amsterdam in KLM 787-9 World Business Class Review
CONCLUSION
Perhaps the list is debatable, but I believe it represents an accurate picture of the 10 oldest airlines. I’m looking forward to how KLM and Avianca will celebrate their centennial birthdays next year.
(H/T: Travel and Leisure)
Nice post.
Nice read! Have you flown them all?
Have not flown Tajik or Czech.
Fascinating! It’s especially interesting to see some of the older aircraft.
Also, I think “call sign” should be something else – perhaps “airline code” instead? AFAIK, a call sign is used in radio communication. I don’t think ATC controllers call Qantas “QF” or Avianca “AV,” but rather, they’d use their call signs, like “Speedbird” for BA.
Good point.
Uh…United? April 1926
I count United as having been formed in 1929. Varney was bought by UATC and UATC later became United, but I don’t think it is fair to say one component of United that dated back to 1926 means United itself, even under another name, was founded in 1926. You see my point?
LO must be#11. I feel like it has been flying since the 1920’s