British Airways turns 100: A food history

Imperial Airways Flying Boat Circa 1938 (Photo courtesy: British Airways).

Mid-1930s: When Imperial Airways’ Empire Flying Boats operated the trunk routes to Africa, the Far East and Australia, the typical menu on the flying boat Corsair included Foie Gras or grapefruit, roast chicken, ox tongue and York ham with Russian or green salad, completed by peaches with Melba Sauce, Cheshire, Camembert and Kraft Cheeses offered a with a good wine list and an ‘Airways Cocktail’. Provisions were loaded on board in giant baskets.

Imperial Airways C Class Flying Boat Circa 1938 (Photo courtesy: British Airways).

1939: BOAC was formed from an amalgamation of Imperial Airways and the original British Airways. BOAC operated a network of services right throughout the war years to maintain the links for civil servants and urgently-required military personnel to the far-flung outposts of the British Empire. Food, such as it was, tended to be sandwiches and whatever could be packed into Thermos flasks.

BEA Viking Aircraft One-class. Circa 1947 (Photo courtesy: British Airways).

1949: BOAC launched a first-class service on Boeing Stratocruiser long-haul flights. Passengers were served six-course dinners, afternoon teas, cocktails and canapés – menus for ‘invalids, infants, vegetarians etc’ and available if requested in advance. To create a celebratory atmosphere on board, complimentary cigarettes were offered upon take-off and after meals.

1952: The inaugural luncheon served from Paris to London included foie gras truffe battendier en bellevue, poulet de grain de Bresse a la broche with pommes nouvelles sautees, and friases d'Hericart au sucre.

1953: The Rolls Royce prop-jet Vickers Viscount was introduced and ‘Silver Wing’ became the brand name for BEA’s First class service. Hot meals in round china dishes, set on trays with red and white striped tray liners, silver plated cutlery and clear plastic dishes with such items as lobster mayonnaise and a banana split for dessert were served. Petits fours and a bread roll completed the tray set.

BEA Trident in Y Class (Photo courtesy: British Airways).

1978: BA’s first- and business-class passengers are treated to in-flight catering inspired by the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (from 1558 to 1603). They were served dishes that were popular 400 years previously including ale and Posset, an Elizabethan drink made by mixing hot milk, spices and liquors.

British Airways Club World on 747 (Photo courtesy: British Airways).

1985: The exclusive First Class, Business and Economy menus ‘La Cuisine du Ciel’ was introduced by George Banks, an IFCA Mercury award-winning menu with the description: ‘La Cuisine du Ciel combines the great cooking traditions of British cooking with a range of lighter and innovative continental dishes.

October 7, 1986: ‘La Brasserie’ was first introduced on night flights to Riyadh and Jeddah. A tray service, using top quality white china which included sculptured shells, crescents and cocottes. This was for late departing flights when it was not appropriate to offer a full meal service.

Late 1960s: Sovereign (i.e. First Class) on a BEA Trident (Photo courtesy: British Airways).

May 6, 1988: British Airways serve sausages for the first time in their in-flight meals on Concorde.

1991: The re-launch of the new First Class product involved new Regency striped white linen, spiral-stemmed wine and champagne flutes, marbled blue and white Royal Doulton china and new seat fabrics. The same year, BA re-launched their Economy Class product with a new name, ‘World Traveller’. Passengers enjoyed a large tray for main meal service on new grey and white melamine equipment. There was an appetiser, a choice of hot main meals, a dessert, and on some routes cheese and biscuits as well. A separate coffee and chocolate mints service was offered after the meal service, and nice extras included hot towels, orange juice before take-off while boiled sweets were offered before landing.

The early 1970s: Front F cabin of a BOAC Boeing 747-136 (Photo courtesy: British Airways)

1993: The ‘First Class Sleeper Service’ was launched from New York to London and later extended to many other routes. It offered First Class passengers the opportunity to dine on the ground at the airport in BA’s exclusive restaurant before boarding their flight. Once on board, ‘Sleeper Suit’ pyjamas were offered. Sleep-inducing Charbonnel et Walker hot chocolate with cookies was served, and for those passengers who did not have time to eat on the ground, a hot and cold buffet menu was offered from the trolley in-flight, followed by cheese and dessert, hot chocolate, Horlicks, herb teas, and Hot Chocolate Cookies.

1995: Full-length 6ft beds are introduced to the first-class service, now branded simply as First. A newly flexible approach means meals are served whenever the passenger desires, with cabin crew having trained under Michel Roux at Bray’s Michelin-starred The Waterside Inn to ensure they reach the highest standards of service. BA proclaims this innovation ‘the first real 'a la carte' restaurant in the sky’.

2000: In the new Club World, the new restaurant style and sized meal serving equipment included spiralled glass bowls and pure white china. The menu included, amongst others, strawberries dipped in hot chocolate, Chinese stir-fried cooked to order and fresh pancakes.

World Traveller Plus, second meal service in 2019 (Photo courtesy: British Airways).

2010: BA spent £100 million on new first-class cabins. Food and drinks are served as and when desired, and the afternoon tea service is based on that served in London’s Dorchester Hotel.

2019: This year, for First, BA introduced cutlery from Studio William, Dartington crystal glassware and chinaware by William Edwards Limited. Starters include oak-smoked Gressingham duck, Italian burrata, Lobster tortellini while Mains have Seared fillet of aged Herefordshire beef, pan-fried stone bass, Dingley Dell pork cutlet, and crispy spring vegetable gnocchi.

Good to know: You can visit the British Airways Heritage Centre situated within British Airways Waterside Corporate Headquarters in Middlesex (England).