Oldest Airlines Still Flying Today
The canonical answer to "what is the world's oldest airline?" is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, founded on 7 October 1919 and the only airline still operating under its original name a century later. Avianca, founded weeks later in Colombia as SCADTA, is the oldest in the Americas. Qantas, founded in 1920, is the oldest in the English-speaking world. "Oldest" isn't always straightforward — Aeroflot, Czech Airlines, British Airways and Lufthansa have all been through name changes, mergers or post-war restructures, while KLM has flown continuously since 1919 with only a brief WWII interruption.
The Top 3 Oldest Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
World's oldest airline still operating under its original name. First scheduled flight Amsterdam-London on 17 May 1920. Merged operations with Air France in 2004 but retains the KLM brand and 1919 founding date.
Avianca
Oldest airline in the Americas and the oldest still operating in the Spanish-speaking world. Founded as SCADTA, renamed Avianca in 1940 after a merger with SACO. Operating continuously through bankruptcies and restructurings.
Qantas
Australia's flag carrier and the oldest in the English-speaking world. The Qantas name is an acronym of its original title. Began passenger services in 1922 and has flown continuously ever since.
Full Top 15 Ranking
| # | Airline | Country | Founded | Status | Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | Netherlands | 7 October 1919 | Continuous | World's oldest airline still operating under its original name. First scheduled flight Amsterdam-London on 17 May 1920. Merged operations with Air France in 2004 but retains the KLM brand and 1919 founding date. |
| 2 | Avianca orig. SCADTA (Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos) | Colombia | 5 December 1919 | Renamed | Oldest airline in the Americas and the oldest still operating in the Spanish-speaking world. Founded as SCADTA, renamed Avianca in 1940 after a merger with SACO. Operating continuously through bankruptcies and restructurings. |
| 3 | Qantas orig. Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services | Australia | 16 November 1920 | Continuous | Australia's flag carrier and the oldest in the English-speaking world. The Qantas name is an acronym of its original title. Began passenger services in 1922 and has flown continuously ever since. |
| 4 | Aeroflot orig. Dobrolet | Russia | 9 February 1923 | Renamed | Founded as Dobrolet, the Soviet civil aviation enterprise. Renamed Aeroflot in 1932. Was the largest airline in the world during the Soviet era; restructured into a joint-stock company in 1992 after the dissolution of the USSR. |
| 5 | Czech Airlines (CSA) | Czech Republic | 29 July 1923 | Restructured | One of the oldest airlines in Europe. Originally Czechoslovak State Airlines. Suspended operations during WWII and Nazi occupation, resumed in 1945. Heavily restructured in the 2010s and 2020s; now a small carrier owned by Smartwings. |
| 6 | Finnair orig. Aero O/Y | Finland | 1 November 1923 | Renamed | Oldest Nordic airline still operating. Founded as Aero O/Y; the Finnair brand was adopted in 1968. Has flown continuously apart from a brief WWII suspension and is one of Europe's most punctual long-haul carriers. |
| 7 | Delta Air Lines orig. Huff Daland Dusters | United States | 2 March 1925 | Renamed | Traces its lineage to Huff Daland Dusters, a 1925 crop-dusting outfit in Macon, Georgia. Carried its first passenger as Delta Air Service on 17 June 1929. The oldest US airline still operating today. |
| 8 | Iberia | Spain | 28 June 1927 | Continuous | Spanish flag carrier. Operated its first scheduled flight Madrid-Barcelona in December 1927. Merged with British Airways in 2011 to form IAG but continues to operate under the Iberia brand. |
| 9 | American Airlines orig. Robertson Aircraft / various predecessors | United States | 15 April 1926 | Restructured | Traces back to a 15 April 1926 airmail flight piloted by Charles Lindbergh for Robertson Aircraft. The American Airways brand was created in 1930 and consolidated more than 80 small carriers; renamed American Airlines in 1934. Today the world's largest airline by fleet size. |
| 10 | United Airlines orig. Varney Air Lines | United States | 6 April 1926 | Restructured | Began as Varney Air Lines flying airmail in Idaho on 6 April 1926. Became part of United Aircraft and Transport Corp in 1931 and was spun off as United Air Lines in 1934 after the Air Mail Act forced Boeing to divest its airline operations. |
| 11 | Air France | France | 7 October 1933 | Continuous | France's flag carrier. Created on 7 October 1933 from the merger of Air Orient, Air Union, CIDNA, SGTA and Aéropostale (the latter dating to 1918). Now part of the Air France-KLM group formed in 2004. |
| 12 | Aer Lingus | Ireland | 15 April 1936 | Continuous | Ireland's flag carrier. First flight De Havilland Dragon Dublin-Bristol on 27 May 1936. Privatised in 2006, acquired by IAG in 2015, and continues to operate under the Aer Lingus brand. |
| 13 | British Airways orig. BOAC + BEA (predecessor Imperial Airways founded 1924) | United Kingdom | 31 March 1974 | Restructured | Modern BA was created on 31 March 1974 by merging BOAC and BEA. BOAC itself dated to 1939, and its predecessor Imperial Airways began in 1924. Now the UK's flag carrier and a founding member of IAG (2011). |
| 14 | Lufthansa orig. Modern Lufthansa (original Deutsche Luft Hansa: 6 Jan 1926, dissolved post-WWII) | Germany | 6 January 1953 | Restructured | The modern Lufthansa was founded on 6 January 1953 in West Germany; flights resumed in 1955 once Allied restrictions on German aviation were lifted. The original Deutsche Luft Hansa, founded on the same calendar date in 1926, ceased operations after WWII and was formally dissolved in 1965. |
| 15 | Tajik Air orig. Tajik unit of Aeroflot | Tajikistan | 3 September 1924 | Restructured | Traces back to a 1924 Aeroflot regional unit. Became an independent flag carrier after Tajikistan gained independence in 1991. Operations have been intermittent in recent years, with multiple suspensions and restructurings. |
World's oldest airline still operating under its original name. First scheduled flight Amsterdam-London on 17 May 1920. Merged operations with Air France in 2004 but retains the KLM brand and 1919 founding date.
Oldest airline in the Americas and the oldest still operating in the Spanish-speaking world. Founded as SCADTA, renamed Avianca in 1940 after a merger with SACO. Operating continuously through bankruptcies and restructurings.
Australia's flag carrier and the oldest in the English-speaking world. The Qantas name is an acronym of its original title. Began passenger services in 1922 and has flown continuously ever since.
Founded as Dobrolet, the Soviet civil aviation enterprise. Renamed Aeroflot in 1932. Was the largest airline in the world during the Soviet era; restructured into a joint-stock company in 1992 after the dissolution of the USSR.
One of the oldest airlines in Europe. Originally Czechoslovak State Airlines. Suspended operations during WWII and Nazi occupation, resumed in 1945. Heavily restructured in the 2010s and 2020s; now a small carrier owned by Smartwings.
Oldest Nordic airline still operating. Founded as Aero O/Y; the Finnair brand was adopted in 1968. Has flown continuously apart from a brief WWII suspension and is one of Europe's most punctual long-haul carriers.
Traces its lineage to Huff Daland Dusters, a 1925 crop-dusting outfit in Macon, Georgia. Carried its first passenger as Delta Air Service on 17 June 1929. The oldest US airline still operating today.
Spanish flag carrier. Operated its first scheduled flight Madrid-Barcelona in December 1927. Merged with British Airways in 2011 to form IAG but continues to operate under the Iberia brand.
Traces back to a 15 April 1926 airmail flight piloted by Charles Lindbergh for Robertson Aircraft. The American Airways brand was created in 1930 and consolidated more than 80 small carriers; renamed American Airlines in 1934. Today the world's largest airline by fleet size.
Began as Varney Air Lines flying airmail in Idaho on 6 April 1926. Became part of United Aircraft and Transport Corp in 1931 and was spun off as United Air Lines in 1934 after the Air Mail Act forced Boeing to divest its airline operations.
France's flag carrier. Created on 7 October 1933 from the merger of Air Orient, Air Union, CIDNA, SGTA and Aéropostale (the latter dating to 1918). Now part of the Air France-KLM group formed in 2004.
Ireland's flag carrier. First flight De Havilland Dragon Dublin-Bristol on 27 May 1936. Privatised in 2006, acquired by IAG in 2015, and continues to operate under the Aer Lingus brand.
Modern BA was created on 31 March 1974 by merging BOAC and BEA. BOAC itself dated to 1939, and its predecessor Imperial Airways began in 1924. Now the UK's flag carrier and a founding member of IAG (2011).
The modern Lufthansa was founded on 6 January 1953 in West Germany; flights resumed in 1955 once Allied restrictions on German aviation were lifted. The original Deutsche Luft Hansa, founded on the same calendar date in 1926, ceased operations after WWII and was formally dissolved in 1965.
Traces back to a 1924 Aeroflot regional unit. Became an independent flag carrier after Tajikistan gained independence in 1991. Operations have been intermittent in recent years, with multiple suspensions and restructurings.
Founding dates verified against Wikipedia and each airline's published corporate history.
What does "oldest" actually mean?
There is no single answer to "world's oldest airline" — it depends on which definition you use. Aviation historians generally distinguish between three:
- Continuous operation under the original name — KLM is the only major airline that qualifies. It has flown under the same brand since 1919.
- Continuous operation, with renames — adds Avianca (1919, ex-SCADTA), Aeroflot (1923, ex-Dobrolet), Finnair (1923, ex-Aero O/Y) and Delta (1925, ex-Huff Daland).
- Lineage from a predecessor — adds airlines like British Airways (1974, traces to Imperial Airways 1924) and modern Lufthansa (1953, calendar-date heir of 1926 Deutsche Luft Hansa).
Most ranking lists, including this one, accept renames and mergers as long as operations continued in some recognisable form. Pure continuity-of-name purists will still single out KLM.
Why these airlines survived 100+ years
Aviation is a brutal industry. Hundreds of carriers have launched and folded since 1919, and only a handful from the founding era are still in the sky. The survivors share a few structural advantages.
- Government backing — almost every airline on this list was a flag carrier at some point. Direct subsidy, route protection and bankruptcy bailouts kept them flying through wars, oil shocks and pandemics.
- Geographic position — KLM at Schiphol, Qantas in Australia, Iberia bridging Europe and Latin America, Aeroflot across Eurasia. A defensible hub kept them relevant when bilateral air rights mattered most.
- Fleet adaptation — every survivor transitioned through Ford Trimotors, DC-3s, propliners, early jets, widebodies and now neo-generation narrowbodies without missing a beat.
- Mergers that worked — KLM-Air France (2004), British Airways-Iberia-Aer Lingus (IAG, 2011-2015), American absorbing TWA (2001) and US Airways (2013). The right merger preserved the brand even when the underlying companies changed.
- Brand value — a century-old airline is a national icon. That makes it politically painful to let it fail, which is why governments keep stepping in.
Famous airlines that no longer exist
For every airline that survived a century, several iconic carriers didn't make it. A few of the historic names that helped invent modern aviation:
Pioneered transoceanic air travel. Operated the first transatlantic and transpacific scheduled passenger services. Collapsed December 1991 after Lockerbie, the Gulf War fuel spike and decades of deregulation losses.
Founded as Western Air Express in 1925. One of the "Big Four" US carriers for most of the 20th century. Acquired by American Airlines in 2001.
Traces back to Pitcairn Aviation in 1926. Dominated the US East Coast for decades. Ceased operations in January 1991 after a long labour dispute.
Britain's first long-haul commercial airline. Merged into BOAC in 1939, which became part of British Airways in 1974.
Belgian flag carrier for nearly 80 years. Filed for bankruptcy in November 2001 after the post-9/11 demand collapse; succeeded by SN Brussels Airlines (now Brussels Airlines).
Swiss flag carrier known for premium service. The "Swissair grounding" of October 2001 became one of the most studied airline collapses in history; assets were reorganised into Swiss International Air Lines in 2002.
Sources & citations
- Wikipedia articles on each carrier (KLM, Avianca, Qantas, Aeroflot, Czech Airlines, Finnair, Delta Air Lines, Iberia, American Airlines, United Airlines, Air France, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Lufthansa, Tajik Air).
- Airline corporate "About Us" / heritage pages — klm.com, avianca.com, qantas.com, finnair.com, news.delta.com.
- IATA "100 Years of Commercial Aviation" historical timeline and The Aviation Historian Journal.
- Note: founding-date precision varies by source for several carriers (Aeroflot, CSA, Tajik Air); we use the date most commonly cited by the airline itself.
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