British Airways celebrates 90 years of flying between Australia and London with special fares offering savings of up to AUD 900
To celebrate this milestone, the airline is offering special fares, including up to AUD 90 off one-way fares in World Traveller (economy) and up to AUD 900 off return fares in Club World (business class)*
Last year, the airline flew more than 84,000 seats across the globe between the two regions, and continues to operate daily flights from Sydney via Singapore
(Singapore, 24 April) – This month, British Airways is proudly celebrating nine decades of flying between Australia and the UK, commemorating a remarkable milestone in the airline’s history.
To mark the occasion, the airline has launched a flash sale for customers booking flights between Sydney and London Heathrow. The sale includes up to AUD 90 off one-way fares in World Traveller (economy) and up to AUD 900 off return fares in Club (business class)*.
On 13 April 1935, Imperial Airways – a predecessor of British Airways – and Qantas Empire Airways launched their first regular service from London to Brisbane, with a handful of customers departing from London on 20 April. The journey took 12 days and included numerous stopovers along the way, such as Paris, Bangkok, and Darwin, a distant memory from the seamless long-haul experience available today. British Airways currently operates a daily flight between London and Sydney via Singapore on its four-cabin (World Traveller, World Traveller Plus, Club World and First) 787-9 fleet. 
Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said: “It’s a privilege to mark 90 years since our first service between Australia and the UK, which is one of our longest-standing routes. We are proud to connect these two nations with deep-rooted ties, cultures and communities alike.
“Whi
lst much has changed since 1935, our commitment to the region remains as strong as ever. We hope our Australian customers take advantage of our flash sale to visit loved ones or book their next getaway to the UK. We look forward to welcoming them on board soon.”
In 2024, British Airways flew more than 84,000 seats to and from Sydney, and since 1935, more than 10 aircraft types have operated the route.
Key milestones in British Airways' route history to/from Australia:
• 13 April 1935: Imperial Airways and Qantas announced the launch of its first-ever passenger route from London to Brisbane, marking the start of a 12-day journey. The first London-Brisbane passengers were carried on the 20 April service.
• 26 June 1938: Imperial Airways introduced its first through service from Southampton to Australia, with a stop in Singapore.
• 31
May 1945: BOAC and Qantas launched a joint weekly service between London and Sydney, cutting the journey time to 63 hours.
• 9 May 1955: BOAC began its tourist/economy class service from Heathrow using Lockheed Constellation aircraft.
• 1 November 1959: BOAC introduced regular Comet 4 services between London and Sydney, significantly reducing the journey time.
• 1 November 1971: Another milestone in BOAC’s pioneering history was reached with the first Boeing 747 flight operated from London to Sydney.
• 29 October 1986: British Airways launched the fastest one-stop flight between London and Sydney with upgraded Boeing 747 aircraft.
• 10 December 1997: British Airways and Qantas began their codeshare partnership on flights between London and Sydney, further strengthening connectivity between the two countries.
• 27 March 2022: British Airways resumed its daily service from Heathrow to Sydney via Singapore after the pandemic, operating with a Boeing 787.
