The 10 Oldest Airlines in Existence

Sign up for CNN Travels weekly newsletter, Unlocking the World, and stay updated on aviation news, food and drink recommendations, accommodation suggestions, and other travel updates. Despite the aviation industry's reputation for volatility and financial instability in recent years, a remarkable number of airlines from the early days of commercial flight continue to thrive in their original state.

Here are 10 of the world's oldest airlines that are still in operation today.

1. KLM

Year of foundation: 1919

First flight: May 1920

Passengers transported in the first year: 440

In 2022, the number of passengers transported amounted to 25.8 million. With a rich naval history, it is no surprise that the Dutch were pioneers in establishing a national airline that quickly rose to prominence.

Connecting Amsterdam to the Dutch East Indies was a strong driving force behind the establishment of KLM in its early stages. Despite being formally founded in October 1919, the airline only gained momentum in May 1920 with the first flight to London's now defunct Croydon Airport, conducted by a four-seater De Havilland DH.16.

KLM introduced a service from Amsterdam to Batavia (now Jakarta) in 1924, which was then the longest air route in the world.

In 1946, KLM became the first European airline to initiate scheduled flights to New York, employing DC-4 aircraft.

Throughout its over 100 years of existence, KLM has consistently prioritized innovation. This extends beyond its fleet, as the airline has also been at the forefront of utilizing social media, being the first to introduce a flight schedule driven by social media.

2. Avianca

Avianca is the biggest airline in Colombia.

JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images

Year of foundation: 1919

First flight: 1919

In 2022, the number of passengers transported reached 24.6 million. Avianca, originally known as SCADTA, was founded in 1919 by German immigrants in Barranquilla, Colombia. The airline began its operations with Junkers F13 aircraft, some of which were equipped with floats.

Amidst the escalating global tensions in the late 1930s, SCADTA's association with Germany raised alarm bells within the US government, as they grew anxious about the potential security risks posed by the airlines' connections.

Consequently, Pan American World Airways took necessary measures by acquiring a dominant ownership share in the company.

In 1949, SCADTA joined forces with SACO (Servicio Aéreo Colombiano), a fellow Colombian airline, and rebranded as Avianca.

Presently, having incorporated numerous airlines from neighboring nations, Avianca has evolved into one of the foremost airline conglomerates in Latin America, boasting a fleet of over 130 aircraft. Furthermore, its network of subsidiaries stretches across the entire continent.

The islands that went from whale hunting to whale watching

3. Qantas

The Qantas logo is known as "The Flying Kangaroo."

Qantas

Year of foundation: 1920

Passengers transported in 2022: 21.3 million

Few people outside of Australia know that Qantas stands for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services."

The airline initially aimed to cater to the remote and thinly populated regions of Northern Australia. It commenced operations with the Avro 504, a biplane from the pre-World War I era with a seating capacity for a pilot and one passenger.

Qantas was taken over by the Australian government following World War II and later returned to private ownership in the 1990s.

Today Qantas remains the de facto flag carrier of Australia as well as the countrys largest airline and one of its best known brands globally.

4. Aeroflot

Aeroflot was the largest airline in the world during the Soviet era.

Stanislav Sergeev/Alamy

Year of foundation: 1923

First flight: July 1923

Passengers transported in 2022: 20.5 million

A Junkers F13 flight departing from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod with a total of six individuals (four passengers and two crew members) marked the inception of the Soviet Union's, and subsequently the Russian Federation's, national airline. Initially known as Dobrolet, it underwent a name change to Aeroflot in 1932, as the Soviet government opted to consolidate the entire civilian air fleet into one unified organization.

After World War II, Aeroflot emerged as the world's largest airline, mainly due to the limited options available for transportation across the vast territories of the Soviet Union.

In 1956, Aeroflot made a groundbreaking advancement by unveiling the Tupolev Tu-104, which became widely recognized as the first highly successful jet airliner.

During the Cold War era, Aeroflot operated the Il-62, a long-range aircraft that flew from Murmansk in the Arctic all the way to Cuba. Additionally, they operated the supersonic Tupolev Tu-144, which was the Soviet Union's counterpart to the Concorde. Similar to the Soviet Union, Aeroflot underwent a split in the 1990s and was divided into several regional airlines, with some former Soviet republics establishing their own air services.

Russia gained control of the airline's core, which continues to be state-owned. Aeroflot experienced significant changes in the service and fleet aspects during the initial years of the 21st century.

Bar its hammer and sickle logo, the Aeroflot of today bears little resemblance to its original conception.

5. Czech Airlines (CSA)

Czech Airlines, the national airline of the Czech Republic.

MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images

Year of foundation: 1923

First flight: October 1923

Passengers transported in 2022: No data

Czech Airlines, originally established as the national airline for the newly formed country of Czechoslovakia, faced a pause in its operations due to World War II. However, the post-war Communist government reinstated the airline. In 1957, CSA became the third airline worldwide, following BOAC and Aeroflot, to introduce jet airliners into its fleet with the deployment of the Soviet-manufactured Tupolev Tu104A.

Content revision:

The airline was groundbreaking in its introduction of a jet-only route from Prague to Moscow. In the years of the Cold War, CSA established an impressive operation with a fleet of up to 21 long-range Ilyushin Il-62 aircraft. Additionally, they operated an extensive network of routes encompassing the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Regrettably, it experienced two significant incidences, marking unfortunate milestones in aviation history. Firstly, it became the pioneering airline to endure a large-scale hijacking as three of its aircraft were diverted to West Germany by defectors in 1950.

Furthermore, it faced another sobering first as it became the initial airline to suffer the loss of a captain at the hands of a hijacker, during an incident in the 1970s.

Like many national airlines from the former Eastern Bloc, CSA underwent renaming, restructuring, and modernization in the 1990s.

After facing severe financial impact from the Covid-19 pandemic, CSA managed to survive till its 100th anniversary despite declaring bankruptcy in 2021. Following a reorganization process, the airline has secured a new investor, Prague City Air.

What to pack in your car to stay safe during severe winter weather

6. Finnair

Finnair's 100th anniversary is November 1, 2023.

Courtesy Finnair

Year of foundation: 1923

First flight: March 1924

Passengers transported in 2022: 9.1 million

Finnair's airline code "AY" originated from its previous name, "Aero O/Y," before it was rebranded in 1953. In its first 12 years, the airline exclusively operated seaplanes, which was a practical decision considering the abundance of lakes and water inlets across Finland's landscape.

In 1983, it became the first European airline to fly non-stop to Tokyo, with DC-10 aircraft.

Five years later, Finnair was the only European airline with a direct flight between Europe and China.

This helped to position the airline as the shortest gateway between Europe and Asia, largely thanks to Helsinkis location atop the Great Circle route.

7. Delta Air Lines

Delta is the oldest airline still operating in the US.

DANIEL SLIM/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Year of foundation: 1924

Passengers transported in 2022: 141.6 million

Delta has grown from a small crop-dusting operation in Americas Deep South to the largest airline in the world by some measures.

Delta has solidified its position as one of the leading airlines in the world through two crucial corporate choices: acquiring Pan Am's East Coast and European routes in the early 1990s, and merging with Northwest Airlines in 2008. As a result, Delta has become one of the largest airlines globally based on the number of scheduled passengers it serves.

8. Air Serbia

Air Serbia serves more than 70 destinations across Europe, the Mediterranean and Middle East.

ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images

Year of foundation: 1927

Passengers transported in 2022: 2.7 million

Air Serbia traces its origins back to the flag carriers of Yugoslavia, including Aeroput in 1927 and Jat Airways in 1948.

Jat Airways, during the Cold War era, established an extensive route network and procured aircraft from both Eastern and Western countries, reflecting Yugoslavia's status as a non-aligned nation.

After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Jat became the national airline of Serbia. In 2013, Etihad acquired a 49% ownership stake in the company. Following this, a significant recapitalization and rebranding effort took place, resulting in the airline being renamed as Air Serbia.

9. Iberia

In July 2023, Iberia joined British Airways and Qatar Airways' joint business partnership.

Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Year of foundation: 1927

First flight: December 1927

Passengers transported in 2022: Data not available.

After its initial launch, Iberia, which was previously a privately owned company, came under government sponsorship to offer postal transport services between Madrid and Barcelona.

Following a break in operations in the early 1930s, the nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War resurrected it with the help of Germany. Subsequently, Iberia emerged as the official flag carrier of Spain, firmly under government control, after the conclusion of the conflict.

In 1946, Iberia became the pioneer airline in establishing flight connections between Europe and South America, a region that has consistently been a focal point for Iberia's long-haul operations ever since.

Following its privatization in 2001, Iberia joined forces with British Airways in 2010 to form the International Airlines Group, paving the way for a stronger collective presence in the aviation industry.

The three-year cruise is running late -- again

10. British Airways

British Airways is the UK flag carrier.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Year of foundation: 1919 (or 1974)

First flight: August 1919 (or 1974)

Passengers transported in 2018: 44.1 million

This particular matter is somewhat contentious.

British Airways, the national airline of the United Kingdom, was established 45 years ago as a result of the consolidation of four companies: British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast Airlines.

British Airways celebrated its centenary in 2019, commemorating the 100 years of accomplishments of its predecessor airlines. According to the airline, it all started on August 25, 1919, when the world's first scheduled international flight between London and Paris departed with one passenger, along with Devonshire cream and grouse.

The fragment content

This marked the genesis of not only British Airways but also international commercial aviation.

Miquel Ros, an economist turned aviation blogger and consultant, has experience with Flightglobal and Bloomberg. Currently, he provides coverage on the airline industry through Allplane.tv.