Explore our past: 1920 - 1929

The government implemented the recommendations of the Hambling Committee about the future of British air services. Imperial Airways was incorporated on 31 March as the “chosen instrument” of the British government with the mission of developing British commercial air transport on an economic basis. The new airline was formed out of and took over the fleets of The Instone Airline Limited, The Daimler Airway, Handley Page Transport Limited and British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd (operating a Southampton to Guernsey flying boat service).

Based at Croydon Airport, Imperial Airways would receive a government subsidy of £1m spread over ten years on the basis that they would be required to develop routes to the Empire – to South Africa, India and ultimately Australia – particularly for the carriage of mail. The Chairman was Rt Hon Sir Eric Geddes GCB, GBE. The initial fleet was three Handley Page W.8bs, two Supermarine Sea Eagles, one Vickers Vimy Commercial and seven DH34s. The primitive aircraft were used to develop the European routes to Paris, Zurich, Basle, Amsterdam, Hanover and Berlin.

Imperial Airways’ first flight was London Croydon to Paris Le Bourget, on 26 April, was by DH34 G-EBCX (Captain H.S. Robertson). It opened London (Croydon)-Brussels-Cologne daily services on 3 May, London (Croydon)-Amsterdam-Hanover-Berlin (in conjunction with Deutsche Aero-Lloyd AG) weekday services on 2 June and London (Croydon)-Paris-Basle-Zurich thrice-weekly services on 17 June.

Imperial Airways introduced second class travel on the Paris route, using Handley Page aircraft without cabin service and a slower flying time.

Survey flights carried out to the Far East and South Africa laid the basis for the sought after goal of regular links to the Empire. The initial link was established from Cairo to Baghdad in 1927 following pioneering work by the RAF. It was soon extended to Karachi and then Delhi.

Imperial Airways inaugurated their first through service from Britain to India (Karachi). The route was London (Croydon)-Paris-Basle by Argosy (by air), Basle-Genoa (by train), Genoa-Rome (Ostia)-Naples-Corfu-Athens-Suda Bay (Crete)-Tobruk-Alexandria by Calcttta (by flying boat), Alexandria-Gaza-Rutbah Wells-Baghdad-Basra-Bushire-Lingeh-Jask-Gwadar-Karachi by DH66 Hercules. The planned all-air route could not be operated as Italy would not allow British aircraft to enter Italy from France, and flying over the Alps then was not considered practical. The London-Karachi journey time was seven days and the single fare £130.

By December the service had reached Delhi.