Five longest-standing airline companies globally
In the realm of aviation, a rich tapestry of history unfolds, weaving together tales of innovation, perseverance, and the birth of modern airlines. Let's embark on a journey through time, starting with some of the earliest pioneers and moving on to the airlines that are still shaping the skies today.
Clément Ader's Avion III, though its achievements were later discredited, marked one of the earliest claimed powered, heavier-than-air flights in 1897. Ader's experiments paved the way for aviation development, indirectly inspiring pioneers like Louis Blériot, who would later make practical flights possible.
The first airlines emerged in the early 20th century. Aeroflot, the national airline of Russia, was born through an alliance between Germans and Colombians, and its history is showcased at a museum in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Aeroflot's first flight as Dobroliot took place in 1923, and it later changed its name to its current moniker in the early 1930s. In 1956, Aeroflot made history again by receiving the world's first passenger jet, the Tu-104, into service.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Czech Airlines was founded by the government of Czechoslovakia in October 1923. Its first flight was from Prague to Bratislava, and it operated only on domestic routes until 1930. Czech Airlines' first trip across the Atlantic came in February 1962 to Havana, Cuba.
Across the globe, Avianca, the oldest airline in Latin America still operating under its original name, was started in Barranquilla, Colombia, on December 5, 1919. Avianca's first flight was without passengers but carried 57 letters between Barranquilla and Puerto Colombia. In 1940, Avianca merged with Servicio Aéreo Colombiano (Saco) to become Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia (Avianca).
KLM, the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name, was founded on October 5, 1919, with the goal of connecting Amsterdam to the East Indies. The first flight of KLM took place on May 17, 1920, from London to Schiphol. KLM's original name translates to Royal Aviation Company, and today, it operates a fleet of 168 aircraft and offers a network of flights to over 160 destinations on all continents.
As we move towards the present day, we find these historic airlines continuing to thrive and expand. Aeroflot, for instance, plans to occupy 45.5% of the Russian transport market by 2025. Avianca, with about 680 daily flights, has 151 planes, and flies to 100 destinations in 25 countries in America and Europe. Today, Czech Airlines connects with major European destinations and transit points in North America, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, carrying more than 2 million passengers per year.
In this journey through aviation history, we've seen how pioneers like Clément Ader laid the groundwork for modern airlines. From Aeroflot's alliance between Germans and Colombians to KLM's connections to the East Indies, these airlines have played a crucial role in shaping the skies we know today. As they continue to grow and evolve, they carry on the legacy of those who dared to dream of flight and made it a reality.
[1] "Ader, Clément (1841-1925)." Encyclopædia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Clément-Ader. [2] "Clément Ader." National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/national-aircraft/online/ader.cfm. [3] "Clément Ader." Science History Institute, https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/clement-ader. [4] "Clément Ader." The Aviationist, https://theaviationist.com/2016/07/08/clement-ader-and-the-first-flight-of-a-heavier-than-air-machine/. [5] "Clément Ader." National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/national-aircraft/online/ader.cfm.
The first sentence: Traveling through time, we recognize that Clément Ader's Avion III, a significant pioneer in aviation history, paved the way for aviation development, influencing innovators like Louis Blériot and eventually leading to the creation of modern airlines.
The second sentence: As a testament to their historical significance, airlines such as Aeroflot, Czech Airlines, Avianca, KLM, and many others have continued to expand and evolve, shaping the lifestyle of global travel and carrying on the legacy of those who dared to dream of flight and made it a reality.
