Aviation, just like many industries has changed a lot over the past 100 years. Whereas once, Orville Wright had to hold onto his aircraft for dear life, now, we can travel in relative luxury. But just how much has air travel changed in the past 100 years?
The beginning of commercial aviation
I’m not going to talk about the various attempts before the Wright brothers to fly, dating back all the way to the Ancient Greeks at least.
On December 17 1903 at Kitty Hawk, Orville Wright took the first powered flight of a heavier than air aircraft. Thus making him the first human to achieve powered flight.
After that, aviation remained still largely obscure and disregarded.
The Golden age of Aviation
After the two world wars, came the golden age of aviation, where everyone who was someone, flew. Before this, the luxury was the flying itself, but the golden age of aviation saw aircraft fly higher, faster and further.
This lead to an increase in the number of airlines, which meant that airlines had to offer more luxuries in order to attract new customers. This is where in flight entertainment, in flight meals/drinks/snacks come from!
But the golden age of flying was also really expensive, it could cost as much as $1168 for a round trip from Chicago to Phoenix adjusted to inflation!
But that higher cost did pay for something at least:
- You also had tons more legroom than you do today, up to 6 inches more legroom!
- The food on board was much nicer and to a much higher standard (lobster was considered to be air food, which would be unheard of today)
- You wore business attire, because flying was so expensive, it was always a very formal occasion, which warranted everyone, including children, to wear business attire
- You drank lots for free, airlines let you drink as much alcohol as you could possibly want. It was not uncommon for people to come off a 1950’s flight absolutely hammered
- You were never IDed, in today’s day and age, you can’t go anywhere near an airport without having you passport and boarding card ready. You were simply given a cursory look over by security and that was satisfactory, if you looked the part, you would’ve gotten on the aircraft. Best of all, your friends and family could walk you to the gate and wave you off to the aircraft!
Modern Aviation
During the 1950’s, most of the carriers were traditional flagship carriers. Now, there are an abundance of LCC’s, which allow for the masses to travel in (relative) comfort, not just the rich elites. Carriers such as Ryanair, EasyJet and Southwest have made it quite easy for the masses to operate due to its ‘no frills’ business model.
But aviation has also become a lot more consolidated than it was 50 years ago, the largest airlines are as following:
- IAG- International Consolidated Airlines Group, who own Iberian Airways, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Vueling and Level!
- American Airlines- owns the most amount of aircraft and has the largest number of international passengers, as well as the largest revenue!
- Southwest Airlines- largest profit in the industry!
- Lufthansa- largest airline by the number of employees!
- Delta Airlines- largest airline by market capitalization and asset value!
- UPS Airlines- largest airline by number of destinations served!
- Ryanair- largest airline by number of routes!
All 8 of these airline groups, make up around 75% of the market, although there are obviously many smaller carriers based all over the world with a focus on dominating a given area.
Business aviation
At the same time as all of this is happening, businesses are also needing their own business aircraft in order to go about doing business.
The first business aircraft were converted transport aircraft, which had been decommissioned. After this, business aircraft were commercial aircraft, that had the interior ripped out and redone in order to best suit that business.
Over time, business aircraft manufacturers popped up, but they went bust in between recessions.
Now, large aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus manufacture their own business jets, such as the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) range, and the Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ) range. Companies such as Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna, Gulfstream and Bombardier also manufacture business jets that are used all over the planet.
It’s also likely that Aerion will break through into the market in the coming years with their AS2. The AS2 would revolutionize the business aviation as well as general aviation!
I hope you have enjoyed this article on the past and the present of aviation. Do you think I missed anything out? Would you rather fly now or in the 1950’s? Why? Tell me in the comments!