British Overseas Airways Corporation

British Overseas Airways Corporation

British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was the British state-owned airline created in 1939 by the merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd.

After the passing of the Civil Aviation Act of 1946, European and South American services passed to two further state-owned airlines, British European Airways (BEA) and British South American Airways (BSAA). BOAC absorbed BSAA in 1949, but BEA continued to operate British domestic and European routes for the next quarter century.

A 1971 Act of Parliament merged BOAC and BEA, effective 31 March 1974, forming today’s British Airways.

Events

1959

• 1959.12.03 – First Comet IV Regular Service (Johannesburg to London) 
• 1959.12.02 – First Comet IV Regular Service (London to Johannesburg) 

1957

• 1957.02.02 – First Britannia Regular Service (London to Johannesburg)

1952

• 1952.05.05 – First Flight (Johannesburg to London)
• 1952.05.02 – First Flight (London to Johannesburg)

Commemorative Covers

• 1962 – 30th Year of Airmail Service

Contributors

• Terrence Devine