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British Airways is a full service global airline with an extensive global route. Its main base is London's Heathrow airport. It also has a hub at London Gatwick. The airline offers year-round low fares and remains the world's leading international airline. It is the first airline to offer jet passenger services, the first to offer supersonic passenger services, the first to operate weather-beating auto-landings, and the first to offer fully-flat beds. With its affiliates and franchisees, British Airways serves 165 destinations and more than 75 countries in North America, South America, Australia, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

On August 25t, 1919, the precursor to British Airways' company, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T), launched the world's first daily international scheduled air service between London and Paris. That first flight was operated by a single-engine de Havilland DH4A biplane taking off from Hounslow Heath, and carried one passenger and cargo.

British Caledonian began in 1970, when the original Caledonian Airways took over British United Airways. Two years later, the businesses of BOAC and BEA merged and the separate airlines became British Airways in 1974. British Airways and Air France operated the supersonic airliner Aerospatiale-BAC Concorde which was the world's first supersonic passenger service. It first flew in January 1976 from London Heathrow to Bahrain. The Civil Aviation Act of 1980 was passed which allowed the Government to sell its shares in British Airways. In 1981, Lord King was appointed Chairman and was given the task by the Secretary of State for Trade to make the company profitability and get it ready for privatization.

In 1992, British Airways expanded by acquiring Dan-Air. This gave British Airways a bigger presence at Gatwick airport. In March 1993, British Asia Airways was formed to operate between London and Taipei. In 1993, British Airways acquired a 25% stake in Australian airline Qantas. It also acquired Brymon Airways to form British Airways Connect. In September 1998, British Airways, along with American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and Canadian Airlines, formed the Oneworld airline alliance. Oneworld began operations on February 1, 1999 and it is one of the largest airline alliances in the world. In the 2000s, British Airways retired its Concorde fleet which meant the end of the world's only supersonic passenger services. British Airways' fleet of 7 Concordes was released to different world locations. Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge retired as Chairman of British Airways, and was replaced by Martin Broughton.

British Airways UK domestic routes are all one-class, including flights between the UK regions and continental Europe. Passengers on the cheapest flights can get full-service treatment, which includes free in-flight meals and beverages on all mainline flights. On most of its long flights, British Airways offers four cabins: FIRST - complete with fully flat seats, Club World - with flat bed sleeper seats, World Traveller Plus - a premium economy service offering more room in-flight and dedicated check-in desk, World Traveller - economy or coach class on its European flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick and City, Club Europe - business class, and Euro Traveller - economy. British Airlines remains one of the world's leading international airlines.