British Airways celebrates 80 years of flight to Hong Kong with exhibition
Heritage exhibition at University of Hong Kong showcases long history between airline and city
British Airways celebrated 80 years of flight between Britain and Hong Kong with a heritage exhibition at the University of Hong Kong.
Exhibits take visitors down memory lane with photos, videos, model planes, vintage crew uniforms, inflight menus and promotional posters, highlighting British Airways’ long relationship with the city.
“British Airways has a special place in the hearts of our customers here ... Hong Kong is one of the routes that we’ve served the longest of any ... 80 years is a pretty amazing number,” said Richard Tams, British Airways’ executive vice-president for greater China.
“British Airways was flying here 10 years before Cathay (Pacific) was even created.”
To give an idea of how much air travel has changed in 80 years, in 1936, it took eight days and 21 stops to fly from London to Hong Kong. Today, it takes just over 11 hours, non-stop.
“I wish I could show you the (advertisement) of the first service, it basically said: ‘Only (eight) days!’,” Tams joked.
While British Airways is focusing on expansion in mainland China, the airline is not planning to reduce flights to and from Hong Kong.
The exhibition is at the MC3@702 Creative Space, 7/F, Jockey Club Tower at HKU, and is open to the public for free until June 30.
