Major Airlines Celebrated Some Big Birthdays in 2014
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- KLM celebrates 95 years. Image via World Airline News
Aviation is aging beautifully! In addition to the 100th anniversary of the first commercial flight taking place this year, 2014 saw some big milestones for a number of airlines. Over and above big cakes with lots of candles, we looked at how some airlines marked their birthdays.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, touted as the oldest airline, celebrated 95 years in October with a new “KLM 95 Years” logo on one of its MD-11 aircraft, as well as laying the first stone for a new KLM lounge at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
To celebrate 85 years, LAN Airlines treated passengers to an in-flight fashion show. Cabin crew modeled retro hostess uniforms from the 1950s onwards.
Delta Air Lines opened the Delta Flight Museum in Georgia to mark their 85th Anniversary of Passenger Service.
Hawaiian Airlines marked their 85th anniversary by distributing Wrigley’s gum, honoring a long-time tradition of assisting passengers with ear pressure. South African Airways turned 80 this year, acknowledging various milestones throughout their history and announcing the addition of 20 new aircraft to their fleet.
British Airways marked their 40th anniversary by releasing a list of top 40 trips to take before you’re 40, while Air Malta turned 40 with a ‘look back’ video. Virgin Atlantic’s 30th was celebrated by a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner called ‘Birthday Girl’.
The industry has grown experientially since that initial single-passenger flight 100 years ago, with airlines now flying over three billion passengers per year. Celebrations continue into the new year with more airlines achieving milestone anniversaries. In 2015:
- Qantas: 95 years
- American Airlines: 85 years
- Air India: 85 years
- TAP Portugal: 70 years
- Thai Airways: 55 years
- Air Canada: 50 years
- Ryanair: 30 years
- Emirates: 30 years
- EasyJet: 20 years
- JetBlue: 15 years
- Virgin Blue/Virgin Australia: 15 years