World's Oldest Airlines
Which are the oldest airlines in the world still in operation?
10th: Iberia, Spain - 1927
Spain’s flag carrier started out with three German-built Rohrbach Roland monoplanes.
Spain’s flag carrier started out with three German-built Rohrbach Roland monoplanes.
9th: Air Serbia, Serbia - 1927
Originally founded as ‘Aeroput’, Air Serbia now flies to Europe, the Middle East and Australia.
Originally founded as ‘Aeroput’, Air Serbia now flies to Europe, the Middle East and Australia.
8th: Tajik Air, Tajikistan - 1924
Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan’s national airline now uses Russian and American aircraft.
Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan’s national airline now uses Russian and American aircraft.
7th: Delta Air Lines, USA - 1924
The world’s biggest airline started out as ‘Huff Daland Dusters’, a crop dusting service in Georgia, USA.
The world’s biggest airline started out as ‘Huff Daland Dusters’, a crop dusting service in Georgia, USA.
6th: Finnair, Finland - 1923
This airline commenced operations with a Junkers F.13 flight from Helsinki to Tallinn in north Finland.
This airline commenced operations with a Junkers F.13 flight from Helsinki to Tallinn in north Finland.
5th: Czech Airlines, Czech Republic - 1923
Originally named ‘Czechoslovak State Airlines’, this airline currently operates one Airbus A330, six A320s, nine A319s, three ATR72s and four ATR42s.
Originally named ‘Czechoslovak State Airlines’, this airline currently operates one Airbus A330, six A320s, nine A319s, three ATR72s and four ATR42s.
4th: Aeroflot, Russia - 1923
For a brief period, Russia’s largest airline operated the Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic transport aircraft. It currently operates a mixture of American, European and Russian aircraft types.
For a brief period, Russia’s largest airline operated the Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic transport aircraft. It currently operates a mixture of American, European and Russian aircraft types.
3rd: Qantas, Australia - 1920
Qantas, originally an acronym for ‘Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services’, is the oldest continuously operating airline in the world. Its first aircraft was an Avro 504 biplane.
Qantas, originally an acronym for ‘Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services’, is the oldest continuously operating airline in the world. Its first aircraft was an Avro 504 biplane.
2nd: Avianca, Colombia - 1919
Founded by Germans and Colombians, Avianca started out as SCADTA (Colombian-German Air Transport Society), operating Junkers F.13s. Avianca currently has more than 80 aircraft in its fleet.
Founded by Germans and Colombians, Avianca started out as SCADTA (Colombian-German Air Transport Society), operating Junkers F.13s. Avianca currently has more than 80 aircraft in its fleet.
Oldest: KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines, Netherlands - 1919
The oldest airline still operating under its original name currently flies to more than 130 destinations. The first aircraft used by KLM was a leased Airco De Havilland DH.16, capable of carrying four passengers.
The oldest airline still operating under its original name currently flies to more than 130 destinations. The first aircraft used by KLM was a leased Airco De Havilland DH.16, capable of carrying four passengers.
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