Throughout her 70-year reign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II travelled extensively around the world on many types of aircraft. Her history flying with flag carrier British Airways has been well documented over the years. Her first flight as monarch of the United Kingdom was made shortly following the death of her father King George VI as she flew home from Kenya on board BOAC Argonaut “Atalanta” G-ALHK aircraft, landing in London Airport on February 7, 1952 as Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen had a life-long partnership with the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and its eventual successor, British Airways. In May 2019, The Queen visited British Airways’ headquarters at Waterside, Heathrow as part of the airline’s centenary celebrations. During the visit, The Queen was presented with a model BOAC Stratocruiser, a scale representation of the aircraft she and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh flew on in 1952.
Queen Elizabeth II on a state visit to Malta on a BEA Trident (Image Credit: British Airways)
Queen Elizabeth II stopping in Bermuda during her first visit to the Commonwealth after her coronation – flying on a BOAC Stratocruiser (Image Credit: British Airways)
Her Majesty The Queen onboard Concorde in 1977 (Image Credit: British Airways)
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip fly back from a visit to Yorkshire in an Andover of the Queen’s Flight, in a photo taken during the filming of the joint ITV-BBC film documentary The Royal Family. (Image Credit: Bettman/Getty Images)
(Image Credit: British Airways)
Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Heseltine, the Minister for Aerospace, inspect the supersonic jet airliner Concorde after its sales tour flight to 11 countries, 3rd July 1972. (Photo by Ris/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II leaves Fiji during her royal tour, February 1977. Prince Philip is just visible behind her. (Photo by Serge Lemoine/Getty Images)
(Image Credit: British Airways)
(Image Credit: British Airways)
Queen Elizabeth II Royal Tour of Australia in 1992 (Image Credit: Qantas Airways)
(Image Credit: British Airways)
(Image Credit: British Airways)
(Image Credit: British Airways)
Queen Elizabeth II meets British Airways colleagues at Waterside on 23 May 2019(Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)
Queen Elizabeth II meets British Airways colleagues at Waterside on 23 May 2019(Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)
Queen Elizabeth II meets British Airways colleagues at Waterside on 23 May 2019(Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)
Queen Elizabeth II meets British Airways colleagues at Waterside on 23 May 2019(Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)
British Airways staff gather for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II at Waterside on 23 May 2019 (Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)
A spokesperson for British Airways, said: “At British Airways, we are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Her Majesty the Queen. At this terribly sad time, our thoughts are with the entire British Royal Family and the nation, as we grieve her immeasurable loss.
“We are deeply honoured and proud to have flown Her Majesty on a number of occasions, moments which we will always cherish. Her Majesty has for so long shown immense resilience and encouraged us to stand together to face difficult times, so now we proudly stand together with the United Kingdom, to thank her for her service and bid her a final farewell.”