BOAC introduced the first successful jet airliner service between London and Johannesburg in 1952.
The service used the de Havilland Comet, the world’s first commercial jet airliner. Jet propulsion greatly reduced journey times compared with piston-engined aircraft, making long-distance passenger travel faster and more attractive.
BOAC, or British Overseas Airways Corporation, was the United Kingdom’s principal long-haul airline at the time. It operated international routes until it merged with British European Airways in 1974 to form British Airways.
The Comet’s early advantage was later overshadowed by structural accidents caused by metal fatigue around its square windows. The aircraft was redesigned with strengthened structures and rounded windows, influencing later jet-airliner design.