EUROPE-OCTOBER 4, 2018
British Airways celebrates the 60th anniversary of its first flight powered by turbo jet engine from London to New York on October 4, 1958.
The airline flew a de Havilland Comet 4 aircraft from London to New York, while another Comet 4 flew from New York to London on the same day.
The first transatlantic jet propulsion flight in Comet 4, reduced the 18-hour trip between London and New York to 7-hours. The daily transatlantic from London carried 48 passengers in two cabin configuration, a Deluxe and First Class. A ticket cost the equivalent of £8,000 today.
Peggy Thorne, 91, who was one of the cabin crew members to serve the first jet flight said “We served customers Madeira biscuits and coffee when they came on board, followed by cocktails and canapes, and then a five-course lunch with wines.” …”they ate and drank from when they got on board until the time they got off.”
British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was the British state-owned airline created in 1940, A 1971 Act of Parliament merged BOAC and BEA with effect from 31 March 1974, forming today’s British Airways.
http://newsinflight.com/2018/10/04/british-airways-celebrates-the-60th-anniversary-of-its-first-jet-propulsion-flight/