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'''British Airways''' is the largest [[airline]] of the [[United Kingdom]], and the largest in [[Europe]]. It is also one of the largest airlines in the world, with the greatest number of flights from Europe to North America.
=History=
British Airways was formed in [[1974]] from the merger of the state owned [[BOAC|British Overseas Airways Corporation]] and [[British European Airways]] (BEA). During the fiscal year ending [[2002]], BA carried 40 million passengers on revenues exceeding GBP 8 billion. The flag carrier was privatised and floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in [[1987]] by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] government of [[Margaret Thatcher|Mrs. Thatcher]].
=Current Operations=
Some British Airways services are operated by various subsidiaries and franchisees including [[British Airways Citiexpress]], [[British Mediterranean Airways]], Sun-Air (Denmark) and [[Loganair]].▼
British Airways is based at [[London Heathrow Airport]] in [[London]], [[England]]. It also has a commanding presence at [[London Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]]. BA has succeeded in dominating Heathrow to the point that the airport is commonly referred to as ''Fortress Heathrow'' within both the airline and its competitors.
As an incumbent airline, BA had ''[[grandfather rights]]'' to around 36% of takeoff and landing slots at Heathrow, many of which are used for the lucrative trans-Atlantic market. Some competitors, such as [[Virgin Atlantic]], [[British Midland|bmi British Midland]] and [[United Airlines]], assert that this stifles competition and some political think tanks recommend an auction of slots. In recent years British Airways has been buying slots from other airlines including [[United Airlines]], [[SN Brussels]] and [[Swiss International Air Lines]], and now owns about 40% of slots at Heathrow.
▲Some British Airways services are operated by various subsidiaries and franchisees including [[British Airways Citiexpress]], [[British Mediterranean Airways]], Sun-Air (Denmark) and [[Loganair]].
British Airways was an operator of the famous Aerospatiale-BAC [[Concorde]] [[supersonic]] [[airliner]]. BA had a daily Concorde service between London and New York. It was announced (on [[April 10]], [[2003]]) that, after [[October]] 24, 2003, they would cease scheduled services with Concorde, due to depressed passenger numbers and increasing maintenance costs.▼
The last day of its Saturday-only London Heathrow to [[Barbados]] Concorde flight was on [[August 30]], [[2003]].▼
British Airways is a founding member of the [[oneworld]] [[airline alliance]].
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=Fleet=
Up until recently for its main fleet, BA has traditionally been a [[Boeing]] customer. This has been always been a subject of controversy, as many feel that as a British carrier, BA should support the British manufacturing industry and buy [[Airbus]] jets. The company has defended its decision by arguing that with the exception of the 777 fleet, it has always equipped its Boeing aircraft with British made [[Rolls-Royce]] engines. This goes back to the [[1960s]], when BOAC were replacing its accident-prone Comet aircraft with [[Boeing 707]]s - a condition was placed on the company that it used Rolls-Royce power for the new jets.
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The regional fleet is much more varied, and some of these aircraft are shared with BA's partner subsidiaries.
▲British Airways was an operator of the famous Aerospatiale-BAC [[Concorde]] [[supersonic]] [[airliner]]. BA had a daily Concorde service between London and New York. It was announced (on [[April 10]], [[2003]]) that, after [[October]] 24, 2003, they would cease scheduled services with Concorde, due to depressed passenger numbers and increasing maintenance costs.
*'''Main fleet'''▼
▲The last day of its Saturday-only London Heathrow to [[Barbados]] Concorde flight was on [[August 30]], [[2003]].
**[[Boeing 747-400]]▼
**[[Boeing 777]]▼
**[[Boeing 767]]▼
**[[Boeing 757]]▼
**[[Boeing 737]]▼
**[[Airbus A320|Airbus A319/A320]]▼
=Other facts of interest=▼
*British Airways and [[Air France]] were the only two Concorde operators.▼
*The airline is the largest operator of the [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-400]], with 57 aircraft.▼
*British Airways aircraft generally use the [[Airline call sign]] "Speedbird" in [[Air traffic control|ATC]] radio transmissions. On UK Domestic routes some flights use "Shuttle" as their call sign. ▼
*During the [[1990s]], British Airways repainted (and re-named) many of their airplanes in colour schemes relating to countries they fly to.▼
*British Airways has featured prominently in recent [[James Bond]] films, most notably an air-air shot of a BA 747 in ''[[Die Another Day]]''.▼
=Destinations=
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*[[Colombia]]
**[[Bogota]] ([[El Dorado International Airport]]
▲=Other facts of interest=
▲*British Airways and [[Air France]] were the only two Concorde operators.
▲*The airline is the largest operator of the [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-400]], with 57 aircraft.
▲*British Airways aircraft generally use the [[Airline call sign]] "Speedbird" in [[Air traffic control|ATC]] radio transmissions. On UK Domestic routes some flights use "Shuttle" as their call sign.
▲*During the [[1990s]], British Airways repainted (and re-named) many of their airplanes in colour schemes relating to countries they fly to.
▲*British Airways has featured prominently in recent [[James Bond]] films, most notably an air-air shot of a BA 747 in ''[[Die Another Day]]''.
=IATA Code=
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