Our History and Culture

From the opening of the world’s first daily commercial passenger air service from Hounslow Heath to Paris in August 1919 by Air Transport & Travel, the glamour of Imperial Airways’ flying boats in the late 1930s hurrying on their way to destinations throughout Africa, the Far East and Australia, the post-war achievements of BEA and BOAC through to the 27 glorious years of supersonic commercial flying with Concorde, we have been consistently in the forefront of progress and customer service, in the air as well as on the ground.

In the 90 years that have passed since the world's first schedule air service on 25 August 1919, air travel has changed beyond all recognition. Each decade has seen new developments and challenges, which have shaped the path for the future. Our corporate Head Office, Waterside is home to the Speedbird Centre which host a collection of records and artefacts of British Airways predecessor companies BOAC, BEA, BSAA and the pre-war Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd.

The collection comprises of an extensive document archive recording the formation, development and operations of the British Airways and its predecessor companies as well as memorabilia and artefacts.

Over 130 uniforms from the 1930s to the present day are preserved as well as a large collection of aircraft models and pictures. Take a look at History and Heritage to see how we became the airline we are today.

It only takes a quick glance inside British Airways to appreciate the sheer number of people behind our operations, and the diversity of their experiences. Think of a skill, any skill. Chances are it's being deployed right now somewhere across our business amongst the people who work here.

We’re all about bringing people together and taking them wherever they want to go. This applies as much to our employees as the 36 million people who travel with us every year. It's about offering greater diversity, more development, better training and more valuable experience. It's about investing in our employees and their futures. After all, it's only when they realise there full potential that we can achieve our broader business goals.

Waterside is home to our corporate headquarters and has all the facilities to help people get the most from their time at work. Our Pavement Café and Starbucks Coffee shop allow employees the opportunity to meet in a more informal setting whilst the surrounding parkland gives you a chance to stretch your legs over lunch.There’s also an onsite gym and hairdressers, not to mention a bank and a Waitrose Supermarket for those much-needed essentials.

In addition, we offer lots of activities outside of work through our BA Clubs which offer everything from tennis through to water skiing and The British Airways Communities and Conservation Programme (BACC) supports more than 40 community and conservation organisations worldwide.

Our annual BA Fun Run brings together employees across British Airways to raise money for Cancer Research. Over the past few years, the cast of Eastenders and Coronation Street have mingled in the crowd and we’ve had great support from sports personalities Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Lawrence Dallaglio and Frank Bruno, to name but a few.

You could ask everyone who works here that question and get a different answer each time. It's all sorts of things. It can be deeply rewarding, it can also be great fun. At times it can be frustrating. It can be tough, and it can be demanding. For some it's a great job they leave behind at the end of the day. For others it's their life and their passion.

It’s not just what we do here at British Airways that sets us apart but the way we do it and our 5 brand behaviours shape who we are and how we interact with our colleagues and customers across the business:

• Keep promises
• Look the part
• Do things properly
• Find solutions
• Treat everyone as an individual

So, if you're wondering whether we're the company for you, the honest answer is that British Airways is what you make of it. The opportunities are all out there, waiting. It's up to you to seize them.