With Delta recently celebrating it 95th birthday, this got me thinking, what are the oldest airlines in the world?
Some of these airlines are quite shocking- you’d never have guessed that they’re so old. Others are controversial- years of mergers, acquisitions, privatizations and deregulations have led to several “birth” dates. And others are just common knowledge!
15. LOT
LOT is the flag carrier of Poland, it is one of the oldest airlines in the world, and the oldest in Poland. Legally, it is incorporated as Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT, however, it is more commonly known as LOT.
LOT was formed in December 1928 after the Polish government nationalized several pre-existing airlines in Poland. Their first flights were done using Junkers F.13 and Fokker F.VII aircraft.
In the 1930’s, LOT began to use its now-iconic logo, and the first variant of their modern livery. The 1930’s also saw LOT begin to use several American aircraft, bought directly from the US, including the Douglas DC-2, Lockheed Electra and Super Electra.
The 1940’s saw Poland become communist. This saw the remaining airlines in Poland be joined into LOT, and here is where the airline became known as “LOT”. Here is also where several Soviet-made Ilyushins, Tupolevs and Lisunovs entered service.
After the communist regime in Poland fell, LOT was one of the first airlines in the Eastern Bloc to distance themselves from their Russian roots. LOT began to buy American-made aircraft such as the 767 and 737, whilst retiring Soviet-built aircraft.
14. Iberia
Iberia Airlines is the flag carrier of Spain. Iberia also happens to be one of the oldest airlines in the world, and the oldest currently operational airline in Spain. However it is not without controversy.
In June 1927, following the success of several other airlines in Europe, Spanish-Basque financier Horacio Echevarrieta and Deutsche Luft Hansa decided to launch a Spanish airline.
By June 1928, the Spanish government gave the airline a contract to transport mail between Madrid and Barcelona. The airline was nationalized and later dissolved before the Spanish Civil War, before being reformed during the Spanish Civil War.
Over the years, Iberia has bought and established several other airlines. In the 1990’s, Iberia bought stakes in Aerolineas Argentinas, Viasa and Ladeco in South America. In Europe, Iberia bought majority stakes in Aviaco, Viva Air, Binter Canarias and Binter Mediterráneo.
In 2009, Iberia merged with British Airways (another one of the oldest airlines in the world). This merger formed International Consolidated Airlines Group, one of the founders of airline consolidation.
13. Air Serbia
Air Serbia is the flag carrier of Serbia. It is the oldest airline in Serbia and one of the oldest airlines in the world.
In June 1927, King Peter I of Serbia wanted to found an airline in his country. Officially, this was so the various major cities in his country could send mail and dignitaries much quicker. Unofficially it was to dissuade Austria who’d been violating their air space.
This resulted in the foundation of Aeroput (literally “airline” in Serbian). Between 1927 and 1941, Aeroput was the largest (and only) airline in Serbia.
In 1941, the Germans invaded Serbia. The heavy bombing they brought destroyed much of the company’s infrastructure, rendering it all but useless. The Germans also made it so that only DLH could fly passengers and mail in Serbia.
Post-WWII, the airline was nationalized into JAT Airways under the Yugoslavian communist government. The airline became privatized in 2013, when Etihad and the Serbian government entered an agreement. Thus, renaming the airline Air Serbia.
12. American Airlines
American Airlines is known for being one of the “Big Four” US airlines. It is also one of the oldest airlines in the US, not to mention the world!
Throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s, several independent carriers operated under the name “American Airlines” or “American Airways”. However, in 1930, all of these separate carriers merged and acquired one another to form American Airways, Inc.
By 1934, the company has expanded beyond its original goals, routes and roots. The airline had even acquired new air mail routes, not just passenger routes. As such, they re-branded themselves as American Airlines, Inc.
American has been one of the biggest airlines in the US since the 1970’s. The bankruptcy of Pan Am in the 1990’s gave American the edge to become one of the largest airlines in the world, not just the US.
Over the years, American has acquired several other airlines. The three most notable acquisitions were Reno Air in 1996, Trans World Airways (TWA) in 2001 and US Airways in 2015.
11. Lufthansa
Lufthansa is a contentious airline. Officially, Lufthansa was founded in January 1953. Unofficially, Lufthansa was founded in January 1926, with the founding of Deutsche Luft Hansa.
However, it must be stated that there is no legal connection between the modern Lufthansa and the Deutsche Luft Hansa of the past.
Deutsche Luft Hansa was founded in January 1926 as a result of a merger between Deutscher Aero Lloyd and Junkers Luftverkehr. The first flights were conducted on a Fokker F.II between Zürich via Halle, Erfurt and Stuttgart.
Over the years, Deutsche Luft Hansa (DLH) became the largest airline in Germany and was the flag carrier of both the Wiemar Republic and later Nazi Germany. After the war, the Allies and the Soviets dissolved DLH.
In 1953, the Allies decided that West Germany needed its own airline. To do so, the Allies paid for new aircraft (mostly early Convair and Lockheed jet aircraft). For staff, the newly formed Lufthansa employed ex-DLH staff.
And thus, the modern Lufthansa was formed, making it one of the oldest airlines in the world!
10. United Airlines
United Airlines is one of the “Big Four” airlines in the US. Originally, United was the brainchild of William Boeing (the founder of Boeing) after he bought and started several air mail and passenger airlines.
With the success of William Boeing’s Boeing Airplane Company, Boeing launched United Aircraft Corp in 1919. This airline would use Boeing Model 40s to transport mail through the air.
After acquiring several other air mail and passenger airlines, United Aircraft (and acquiring Pratt & Whittney) was rebranded as United Aircraft and Transport Corporation (UATC).
UATC was soon broken up by anti-trust regulators. UATC was broken up into three companies. One of these became Boeing Airplane Company, another became Pratt & Whittney engine company and the other, became United airlines.
United Airlines also helped to found Star Alliance. United also bought several other airlines, most notably Continental. Other airlines include: Atlantic Coast Airlines and Air Wisconsin.
United is the only US airline ever, to have used the call sign Executive One, an alternative to Air Force One, when President Nixon wanted to save fuel and expense for the US taxpayer.
9. Tajik Air
Tajik Air has perhaps the oddest foundation. Nevertheless, Tajik Air is one of the oldest airlines in the world, not to mention being the flag carrier of Tajikistan.
In 1923, Tajikistan was a part of the USSR. The USSR’s largest (and national) airline, Aeroflot (more on them later) decided that they needed a subsidiary in each of the Soviet Republics.
As such, they established Tajik Air as their Tajikistan-based subsidiary. There, Tajik Air flew a mixed fleet of Tupolevs, Junkers (bought from Junkers post-war) and Lisunovs.
Tajik Air remained a subsidiary of Aeroflot until 1991. In 1991, the USSR collapsed, where Tajik Air became owned by the Tajikistan government. Sadly, Tajik Air has not bought other airlines or been sold since.
In September 2019, the airline suspended its service, however restarted in November 2019.
8. Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is known as one of the “Big Four” American airlines. It also happens to be one of the oldest airlines. It also happens to be the oldest currently operational airline in the US.
In March 1925, the company that would become Delta Air Lines was founded as Huff Daland Dusters, Inc. Surprisingly, Huff Daland was actually the first crop duster airline. Alas, this wouldn’t last.
Huff Daland was led by C.E. Woolman. After seeing several other airlines being formed, Woolman decided that Huff Daland needed to change direction. As such, he led a group of investors to finance Huff Daland becoming an airline.
As such, Delta Air Service (the original name for Delta Air Lines) was incorporated on December 3, 1928. In 1934, Delta Air Service began to operate as Delta Air Lines after gaining an air mail contract.
Over the years, Delta has acquired several other airlines. The first airline Delta acquired was C&S Air Lines in 1953. Delta then bought Northeast and Western Airlines before launching Song, Delta’s low-cost airline. In 2008, Delta bought Northwest Airlines.
7. Finnair
Finnair is the flag carrier of Finland. It is the oldest airline still in operation in Finland and is one of the oldest airlines in the world.
In November 1923, Bruno Lucander, in an agreement with Junkers, founded Finnair. The agreement between Lucander and Junkers stated that Junkers would supply Finnair with their aircraft for free, in exchange, Junkers would own 50% of Finnair.
Finnair started service with a fleet of Junker F.13s equipped with floats (it was easier to land on water in Finland as runways often froze). Over time, Finnair began to use non-Junkers aircraft, increasingly so after WWII.
Finnair became one of the first airlines in Europe to receive jet aircraft, in the form of Sud Aviation Caravelles. The 1960’s saw Finnair take possession of DC-8s- a rarity in that part of Europe.
In 2007, Finnair continued their trend of “firsts”, when they were the first airline in the world to take possession of the A350XWB.
6. Czech Airlines
Czech Airlines (CSA) is the flag carrier of the Czech Republic (Czechia). It is the oldest airline in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest airlines in the world.
CSA was founded in October 1923 by the then-Czechoslovak government. The government needed an airline that could deliver government officials, news and vital mail between Prague and Bratislava, the two biggest cities in Czechoslovakia.
After Czechoslovakia was taken over by the Germans in 1939, the airline was dissolved. However, after the war, CSA was re-established. The post-WWII Czechoslovakia was also made to be communist.
This saw CSA become the sole airline in a communist Czechoslovakia, this also continued after the Velvet Revolution. Communism also saw CSA use Ilyushins and Tupolevs courtesy of the Soviet Union.
Since communism fell, CSA has begun to adopt US-made aircraft such as the 737 and European-made aircraft like the A310, all whilst retiring its Soviet-era fleet. The fall of communism also saw different owners, including Korean Air and now Smartwings.
5. Aeroflot
Aeroflot is the flag carrier of Russia, and has been ever since the foundation of the USSR. It is the oldest continuous airline in Russia and one of the oldest airlines in the world!
In July 1923, the People’s Commissar of the RSFSR (modern-day Russia) looked into the possibility of an airline that could transport high-ranking RSFSR and USSR officials and mail between the major population centers.
The result was that Lenin, convinced by the Commissar, signed off on an airline being created. This airline was Aeroflot, the first airline in the USSR. Originally, it flew between St. Petersberg (Leningrad) and Moscow.
Over time, the airline began to fly to several other destinations in the USSR. These were major population centers, such as Minsk, Volgograd (Stalingrad), Vladivostok, Kiev and other places in the Eastern Bloc.
In 1991, the USSR fell. The USSR was broken up into several smaller countries, Aeroflot too was broken up, with these countries establishing their own national airlines. Russia chose to name their airline Aeroflot, after the USSR behemoth.
And there is still a paper trail to link the USSR’s Aeroflot with the modern Russian Aeroflot. However, Aeroflot has more competition now, with other airlines such as Rossiya and Ural Airlines.
4. Qantas
Qantas is the flag carrier of Australia. It is the oldest currently operational airline in Australia. Although Qantas is commonly known as one of the oldest airlines in the world, it’s place is slightly contentious.
In November 1920, Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness and Fergus McMaster founded Qantas. They incorporated Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited, the first airline in Australia.
The first flight of the airline that became Qantas was on an Avro 504K which flew two passengers. During the 1920’s, Qantas was also an air mail airline, not just a passenger airline.
Over the years, Qantas acquired several other airlines. Qantas has acquired Australian Airlines (now defunct), Jetstar, Jetconnect, Fiji Airways and Australian airExpress.
Qantas is the airline that has made the 747 and 787 famous. Qanats also helped to make the 757 and 767 famous freight aircraft with their Qantas freight subsidiary.
3. Avianca
Avianca is the flag carrier of Columbia. It is one of the oldest airlines in the world, and the oldest airline not in Europe.
In December 1919, Avainca was founded by a group of Germans and Colombians, as SCADTA. Here, the Germans used their contacts to get Junkers F.13 aircraft for the Colombians to pilot.
The first flights of SCADTA were done between Barranquilla and the nearby town of Puerto Colombia. The Germans also brought several of their compatriots to teach the Colombians and be the figureheads of the airline.
Over time, SCADTA grew, and merged with Colombian regional airline SACO. This merger formed Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia S.A. or Avianca for short.
Avianca has acquired several airlines over the years, most notably SAM Colombia. Avianca also merged once again, with Salvadoran airline TACA, forming Avainca Holdings.
In December 2019, Avianca celebrated its 100th birthday.
2. British Airways
British Airways is perhaps the most contentious one on this list. Remember when I said earlier: “years of mergers, acquisitions, privatizations and deregulations have led to several “birth” dates”, I was talking about BA.
Officially, BA is the flag carrier of the UK. Officially, BA was founded in 1974 after they were privatized by Margret Thatcher’s Conservative government. However, BA can trace its heritage back to Handley Page Transport, founded in August 1919.
In August 1919, Handley Page Transport flew a converted Handley Page Type 400 from London to Paris. This marked the beginning of British Airways.
Over the years, what would become British Airways, merged, acquired other airlines and was ultimately privatized into British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).
In 1974, BOAC was merged into British European Airways Corporation (BEA) and was then nationalized into the airline we know today.
In August 2019, British Airways officially celebrated its 100th birthday, owing its roots to Handley Page Transport.
1. KLM
Officially known as Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (English: Royal Aviation Company, Inc.) was founded on 7 October 1919. Thanks to it being established on this date, it is not only one of the oldest airlines in the world, but the oldest!
Unlike almost all of the airlines on this list, KLM is still operating using its original name!
KLM owes its existence to two people- Lieutenant Albert Plesman and Queen Wilhelmina. Lieutenant Plesman wanted to start an airline- the first in the Netherlands.
To do this, Plesman sponsored the ELTA aviation exhibition in Amsterdam. This brought in several investors who would help Plesman establish the airline. Once news broke, the richest people in the Netherlands wanted tickets!
To further legitimize the airline, Queen Wilhelmina bestowed the title of koninklijke (royal) on the airline. In fact, the Dutch Royal Family hasn’t given up on the airline- the king is a former KLM pilot!
Surviving two world wars, the Cold War and the Great Depression has taught KLM a lot. Today, it has merged with Air France in order to stay profitable.
Which are truly the oldest airlines in the world? Tell me in the comments!