British Airways formed in 1974 through the merger of BOAC, BEA, Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines.
The merger followed the British Airways Act 1971, which created a new state-owned airline holding company. Operations under the British Airways name began on April 1, 1974.
BOAC had specialized in long-haul international flying, while BEA focused heavily on European and domestic routes. Combining their networks created Britain’s principal international and domestic carrier. Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines also became part of the new organization.
British Airways was later privatized in 1987. Its history is distinct from Virgin Atlantic, which began operations in 1984 and was created as an independent competitor rather than as a successor to the four merged airlines.