How air travel has changed from the 1920s to today
Jacqui Agate
21 April 2021
A history of air travel in pictures
From the early days of flight and the "golden age of travel", to modern-day budget airlines and the current regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air travel has changed a lot over the past century. Here, we take a journey through time to bring you the biggest milestones in commercial aviation history.
1920s: passengers wait to board a plane in 1929
The story of commercial air travel begins before the 1920s, in 1914, when the world's first scheduled passenger service set off between Tampa and St Petersburg, piloted by Tony Jannus. Though commercial aviation did not take off quickly, through the 1920s more and more airlines and aviation companies tried to build on this milestone with varying degrees of success. Here, passengers wait at Croydon Airport, UK to board a Handley Page W.9 aircraft, a model used by early airlines Imperial Airways and Sabena.
1920s: a Western Air Express airliner in 1928
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s it became common for mail to be transported by air and many airmail aircraft would also carry passengers. One such airline was Western Air Express, which merged with Delta in 1987. The airline carried its first load of mail in April 1926 and was welcoming passengers by May of the same year – this first route was Salt Lake City to Los Angeles via Las Vegas. A Fokker F-10 Western Air Express plane is pictured here in 1928.
1920s: Lady Heath pilots a plane for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Other notable early commercial airlines included the now defunct Pan American Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which is still in operation. KLM reached destinations all over Europe, including Copenhagen, London and Paris. This photo shows Lady Heath, Britain's first female passenger-line pilot, in a KLM-owned Fokker aircraft.
1920s: passengers are served drinks on a French Air Union plane in 1929
Life onboard a 1920s aircraft was very different from that of the modern day. Flights were a lavish affair reserved only for the richest members of society. Passengers had their every need attended to and were waited on with fine food and drink. However, the ride itself wouldn't have been so comfortable. Planes travelled at a much lower altitude, so passengers were subjected to lots of noise, turbulence and long journey times.
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1920s: an early in-flight movie in 1925
In-flight entertainment systems looked rather different too. Today aeroplane entertainment is a solitary, hi-tech affair but, in the early days of flight, passengers would typically gather around a single screen if they wanted to catch a movie. One of the earliest films to be shown up high was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World in 1925 with Imperial Airways. Here, passengers on a German airliner also enjoy a movie in the year 1925.
1930s: a woman hands over an airmail parcel to Western Air Express staff circa 1930
The early 1930s continued in a similar fashion to the 1920s, with airlines offering airmail delivery services and also carrying passengers. Flying was still extremely expensive and fairly uncomfortable but, according to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the number of airline passengers grew from 6,000 in 1930 to 450,000 in 1934. Here, a woman passes on her mail to the crew of a Fokker F.10 monoplane operated by Western Air Express.
1930s: passengers listen to a broadcast aboard a flight in 1931
In-flight entertainment technology continued to improve too. This snap, taken in 1931, shows passengers listening to a live radio broadcast of the annual London boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities.
1930s: an early Anglo-Australian airliner in 1934
Another commercial aviation milestone was reached in 1935, when Qantas operated its first international passenger flight. The service travelled from Brisbane to Singapore, where it was picked up by British-owned Imperial Airways. This journey would set the foundations for travel between Australia and the UK in the coming decades, and was a precursor to the iconic "Kangaroo Route".
1930s: Eastern Air Lines stewards in the 1930s
In the 1920s and into the early 1930s, the role of flight attendant was one mostly reserved for men, who were usually referred to as "cabin boys". This was soon flipped on its head, though. The first female flight attendant, a nurse named Ellen Church, was employed in 1930 and by the middle of the decade most of these jobs went to women. The women were often also trained nurses and there were strict rules as to their age, height and weight. Before this change, this photo shows an all-male team of air stewards posing before an Eastern Air Lines plane in the early 1930s.
1930s: an Imperial Airways cabin in 1935
Commercial airlines did everything they could to make passengers feel comfortable. Alongside the help of attentive staff, 1930s passengers would be able to enjoy plush aircraft cabins worlds away from the no-frills set-up of the modern day. This Imperial Airways cabin, captured circa 1935, boasted pillowy floral seats, patterned walls and curtains with decorative trim. This particular plane was generally used on a Paris–London route throughout this decade.
1930s: a Douglas DC-3 in flight
One 1930s invention would seriously revolutionise commercial air travel. The Douglas DC-3 had its first flight in 1935 and raised the bar when it came to commercial airliners. It was larger, faster and more comfortable than any model that had preceded it and it was soon snapped up by industry heavyweights such as Delta, TWA, American and United. A United Douglas DC-3 aircraft is pictured here cruising through the air.
1930s: Pan American Airways flies across the Atlantic in 1939
The 1930s also saw some of the earliest commercial flights across the Atlantic. Pan American Airways was one of the forerunners, transporting passengers across the Atlantic by 1939. The Yankee Clipper aircraft or "flying boat", which was used to undertake this journey, is pictured here in Calshot, Southampton, UK after a flight.
1940s: Pan American World Airways' 'Flying Cloud' clipper
The onset of the Second World War meant developments in commercial aviation were put on the back burner, and all resources were plunged into the war effort. However, by the end of the decade, the industry was recovering, especially since the war had given rise to new runways and military aircraft were able to be converted and put to commercial use. This 1949 shot shows Pan Am's 'Flying Cloud' clipper, the first of a group of planes to begin a service between New York and London in the 1940s.
1940s: passengers aboard a Pan Am Boeing 307 aircraft circa 1945
Pan Am began operating its fleet of Boeing 307 aircraft in the 1940s. The Boeing 307 was another model that propelled commercial aviation forwards, since it was the first to boast a pressurised cabin. This meant passengers (as pictured onboard here c.1945) could enjoy a comfortable ride at around 20,000 feet. The model was also flown by TWA.
1940s: poster advertising TWA
As competition increased towards the end of this decade, the major airlines ramped up their advertising. This TWA poster advertises the Boeing 307 Stratoliner, and promises a smooth ride as the aircraft glides above the clouds. The 1940s was ultimately the decade that preceded the so-called "golden age of travel".
1950s: crowds wave off the world's first jet airliner service
Commercial air travel boomed through the 1950s and, for the first time in history, more US passengers were travelling by air than train. The 1950s also ushered in the "jet age". The de Havilland DH 106 Comet became the world's first commercial jet airliner, debuting in 1952 with the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Here, crowds are seen waving the aircraft off as it leaves London for Johannesburg, South Africa.
1950s: a passenger enjoying lunch on the world's first commercial jet airliner service
The de Havilland DH 106 Comet jet airliner was much faster than earlier piston aircraft, slicing hours off journey times and making the world smaller still. The model could hold 36 passengers and, here, one traveller on the inaugural flight enjoys ample legroom and a slap-up meal with wine. However patrons' confidence in the aircraft model plummeted in the coming years as it suffered a series of crashes.
1950s: a test flight for the Boeing 707 jet airliner with Pan Am
The jet age was not over yet, though. The Boeing 707 jet airliner, which was introduced later in the decade, was larger and even more economical than its predecessor, and would enjoy much more commercial success. Pan American Airways began a regular service with this aircraft in 1958 and the model would remain in civil operation right up until 2019. This photograph shows crew embarking on a test flight with Pan Am back in 1958.
1950s: the Queen arrives in Bermuda on a BOAC flight in 1953
Though commercial aviation was developing at an alarming rate, it hadn't quite opened up to the masses yet. In this decade, plane tickets were still very expensive, so air travel was the domain of the wealthy and elite. Fit for royalty, this BOAC flight landed Her Majesty the Queen safely in Bermuda in 1953: she visited the country just months after her coronation.
1950s: an air hostess attends to passengers on a National Airways Corporation flight in 1959
Without the hi-tech entertainment systems of the modern day, passengers were forced to find other ways to occupy themselves on a long flight. Flying was still a real novelty, so air stewards would often hand out postcards for passengers to document their on-board experience. Travellers would spend their flight scribbling details about their time in the air, from the fine food to the free-flowing booze.
1950s: a movie projector on a United Airlines flight circa 1950
The concept of the in-flight movie, though gaining popularity, was still not commonplace across all aircraft, and it wouldn't truly take off until the 1960s. Before this, it wasn't completely unheard of for passengers to enjoy live performances from singers and musicians. Otherwise, they'd content themselves with reading and mingling with fellow passengers and crew.
1960s: lunch service on a Lufthansa flight in 1967
The golden age of travel reigned on through the 1960s and, partly since there wasn't much else to do, dinner was a grand affair. Menus often included multiple courses, bread baskets and dishes such as steak or even lobster. In this 1967 snap, passengers are being served food onboard a Lufthansa flight. Now check out the most decadent airline menus throughout history.
1960s: dinner aboard a SAS aircraft in 1969
Passengers are receiving similar treatment on this SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) flight in 1969. In this instance, the chef has even come to serve and greet dining first-class passengers. Flying was such an important occasion that it was common for passengers to come aboard in their finest clothes too, with women in dresses and men opting for tailored suits.
1960s: The Beatles arrive in London on a Pan Am flight in 1964
The term "jet-set" was coined to refer to those who were privileged enough to travel on these new commercial jet airliners. Among the regular passengers were the biggest celebrities of the day. Here, The Beatles are pictured in their heyday, leaving a Pan Am flight in London in 1964.
1960s: flight attendants line up before a model of Concorde in the 1960s
In the 1960s, development on what would become one of the most iconic aircraft in commercial aviation began. The project had been floated since the 1950s, and the aim was to create a supersonic airliner that would revolutionise commercial aviation. Concorde made its maiden test flight in 1969 and here flight attendants from various airlines stand before a full-scale model of the aircraft.
1970s: the first Concorde flight from London Heathrow to Bahrain in 1976
Though many airlines initially showed interest in Concorde, numerous orders were dropped after concerns were raised as to the aircraft's noise, environmental impact and economic potential. In the end, only Air France and BOAC would operate Concorde. The airliner is pictured here at London Heathrow in 1976 as it begins service with a BOAC flight from the UK to Bahrain.
1970s: the Queen on a Concorde aircraft in 1977
Concorde got the royal seal of approval (the Queen is pictured here onboard a Concorde aircraft in 1977), with its ability to cross the Atlantic in just 3.5 hours. But only a privileged few could afford to ride aboard the Concorde and it ultimately didn't shake up commercial air travel in the way it had been hoped. Cancelled routes, economic setbacks and a devastating crash meant the Concorde was out of service by 2003.
1970s: Laker Airways founder Freddie Laker celebrates the airline's success
Another major player in the 1970s was Laker Airways, which was actually founded in 1966. While Laker began as a charter service, in the 1970s it would become an early "no frills" airline, a predecessor of today's budget airlines. Pictured here is Laker's jubilant founder Freddie Laker, celebrating the airline's successes through the 1970s.
1970s: Laker and passengers aboard Laker Airways' Skytrain
Laker Airways' Skytrain offered a lower fare service between London Gatwick and New York's JFK, which began on 26 September 1977. Like many budget airlines today, the "no frills" service meant passengers had to purchase meals onboard and weren't subject to the usual luxuries of air travel in the era. Laker also came up with ways to reduce fuel consumption and engine wear to enable the lower costs. He's pictured here celebrating with passengers aboard the Skytrain in 1979.
1970s: the first scheduled Pan Am Boeing 747 flight
Another major leap for commercial air travel in this decade came with the introduction of the Boeing 747, a wide-bodied jet aircraft able to carry many more passengers than its predecessors. Here, the American First Lady Patricia Nixon sprays Champagne onto the aircraft ahead of its maiden commercial flight from New York to London in service with Pan Am in January 1970.
1970s: passengers in the cabin of a Boeing 747
This was the first time that air travel was truly opening up to the masses. Since planes were larger, airlines were able to hold more passengers and therefore sell more tickets at a reduced price. Though flying still wasn't cheap, it was no longer only reserved for the super-rich. This 1970s shot shows the spacious cabin of a BOAC Boeing 747, filled with families, couples and other holidaymakers.
1970s: passengers are served Champagne on a Pan Am 747 flight
Those passengers who could afford it needn't skimp on luxury, though. Here, travellers in first class are served Champagne by a flight attendant on a Boeing 747 operated by Pan Am in 1970.
1970s: lunch is served aboard a Boeing 747
The long and lavish onboard lunches that characterised the "golden age of travel" weren't lost in the first-class cabin in the 1970s either. In this shot, taken on 22 January 1970, flight attendants carve ham seat-side, their trolley weighed down with bread and fine wine and spirits.
1970s: a lounge on a SAS Boeing 747-B Huge Viking
Swish onboard lounges were still commonplace for first-class guests too and most travellers would socialise with their fellow passengers over drinks. This lounge was onboard SAS's Boeing 747-B (nicknamed the "Huge Viking") in the 1970s.
1980s: Laker celebrates further fare cuts in 1980
The 1980s arrived and it wasn't kind to all commercial airlines. In this photo, at the turn of the decade, Laker can be seen celebrating further cuts to the fares of his transatlantic Skytrain service. However, there wasn't cause for celebration for long, since Pan Am also dropped the cost of its transatlantic journeys to compete. The recession of the early 1980s hit Laker hard too.
1980s: passengers are stranded as Laker Airways collapses in 1982
Laker Airways collapsed in 1982, with debts amounting to £270 million ($340m). More than 6,000 passengers were left stranded in airports around the world. Here, exasperated travellers and dismayed Laker staff feel the brunt of the collapse on 5 February 1982. Now discover the groundbreaking planes that changed the world.
1980s: a Ryanair aircraft in 1988
The fate of Laker Airways didn't stop the rise of other low-cost carriers though, and Ryanair launched in 1985. Early services covered short distances, with the first flights operating from Ireland's Waterford to London Gatwick. Ryanair set the bar for today's budget airlines and it's now one of Europe's largest carriers. A branded aircraft is pictured here at Stuttgart Airport in 1988.
1980s: Richard Branson celebrates the launch of his new airline, Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984
Balancing out the rise of the low-cost carrier, Virgin Atlantic Airways was also launched in this decade. Branson's mission was to pay homage to the golden era of travel by elevating the experience of flying once more, offering passengers a luxurious but not unattainable journey. On 22 June 1984, Branson celebrates the launch of his new airline.
1980s: a flight attendant serves dinner on a SAS flight circa 1980s
Through this decade, as flying became more and more commonplace, the economy class cabin looked much as it does today. Lavish, multi-course meals had been mostly replaced with more humble dinners served from boxes or trays. This photo shows a SAS flight attendant serving boxed meals to passengers.
1980s: ashtrays on a commercial flight
Another major change came in 1988 when, for the first time, smoking was prohibited on US domestic flights of less than two hours. Just a year later, the law was extended to flights of six hours, which applied to almost every flight across the country. This smoking ban wasn't adopted internationally until 2000.
1990s: easyJet boss Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1995
The budget-airline boom continued right into the 1990s, when easyJet was launched in 1995. At first, it flew only from London Luton Airport to Scottish destinations Edinburgh and Glasgow, before expanding across Europe. By this decade, these low-cost carriers meant air travel was no longer necessarily seen as a luxury.
1990s: Ryanair's chief executive promotes low-fare flights
The introduction of Ryanair and easyJet (and also Norwegian in 1993) meant pressure was put on traditional carriers, fares were pushed down and air travel became increasingly more accessible. As travellers also began booking holidays online, competitive pricing became more important than ever.
1990s: a Pan Am aircraft in 1991
This increased competition didn't help long-standing carriers such as Pan American World Airways. The struggle to compete with budget rivals – as well as the 1973 oil crisis, a well-publicised hijacking and some devastating crashes – led to Pan Am's demise. The airline finally collapsed on 4 December 1991, a significant milestone in the history of commercial aviation.
2000s: security at Salt Lake City International Airport in 2001
The devastating events of 9/11 had an impact on commercial air travel, as well as passengers' experience at airports across the USA and beyond. In the aftermath of the tragedy, airport security was heightened significantly. One notable change was that people without a boarding pass could no longer pass through security to see their loved ones off at the gate. This photograph shows scenes at Salt Lake City International Airport on 30 September 2001.
2000s: the door to an aircraft cockpit in 2001
Another change post-9/11 was heightened cockpit security. In past decades, it was possible for passengers to visit the cockpit. After 2001, however, cockpit doors were made much stronger and advanced locking systems meant the pilot could control who enters and deny access in the case of an emergency.
2000s: an easyJet aircraft flying in 2009
Travellers eschewed air travel in the years following 9/11 and, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, it took until 2004 for air-passenger numbers to reach their pre-9/11 peak. Commercial air travel was recovering by the end of the decade, though, with US air passengers numbering 769.6 million in 2007 – a record high. During this time, it was low-cost carriers that saw the most growth.
2000s: a traveller books flights online
Another significant change during this decade was the way travellers were choosing to book their flights. According to PhoCusWright, a tourism research company, 2009 was the first year that more than half of all travel-related bookings were made online. This placed even more pressure on airlines to be competitive and offer the best value for money.
2010s: a man works on his laptop during a flight
The internet hasn't just infiltrated the booking process. Nowadays it's commonplace for carriers to offer in-flight Wi-Fi, either as part of the package, or for an extra premium. In a major shift from the golden age of travel, this means that flying today is no longer just about pleasure and relaxation – it's also about catching up with work and keeping in touch with people on the ground. Online check-in and smartphone boarding passes have also revolutionised the airport experience over the years.
2010s: a sign for premium economy class in Hong Kong International Airport
Another relatively modern phenomenon is premium economy class, which offers a slightly more elevated experience than regular economy, but without the luxury and sky-high prices of business class. Though the concept was invented before the 2010s, it's in this decade that premium economy has really taken off with more and more airlines offering passengers this option. The usual perks include more legroom, wider seats and extra baggage allowance.
2010s: an American Airlines flight in 2017
The main change in the last decade was the sheer volume of travellers: more and more people were flying than ever before, and the sky-high numbers had then shown little sign of tailing off. In fact, in 2017, the International Air Transport Association had projected that there could be 7.2 billion air travel passengers by 2035.
2020s: grounded planes at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, Germany
The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked the travel and aviation industry and both passengers and staff are currently adjusting to a new (and unpredictable) ‘normal’. Ever-changing international travel restrictions have left airlines up in the air (figuratively, not literally), and major players including easyJet, American Airlines and British Airways have suffered severe financial losses, resulting in job cuts. This photo from 1 June 2020 shows out-of-service planes at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport.
2020s: a passenger undergoes a temperature check at Heathrow Airport
As “air bridges” or “travel corridors” have been announced over the past couple of months, civil aviation has resumed at a crawling pace – though, for passengers choosing to fly, the airport and onboard experience currently looks rather different around the world. Protocols and restrictions vary from airport to airport, and from airline to airline, but typically involve mandatory face coverings, contactless check ins, fewer open airport facilities, social distancing, and, in some cases, COVID-19 tests. A passenger is seen here in July 2020 receiving a temperature check at a BA desk at London’s Heathrow Airport.
2020s: a masked flight attendant on a Brussels Airlines plane
Passengers can currently expect a new experience onboard too. Depending on the airline – and in efforts to reduce touch points and contact between staff and passengers – this might extend to a lack of inflight meals or trolley services, and the reduction of little luxuries like in-flight magazines, blankets and the like. Masks are mandatory on many flights too, while some carriers have been blocking middle seats to allow passengers more space. Love this? Here's what the future of travel looks like.
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