These Are The World's Oldest Airlines That Still Fly
The OGs
Flights may be about loyalty programs and in-flight Wi-Fi now, but it was daring back in the early 1900s. These airlines were among the first to brave the skies, and they're still flying strong.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Founded: 1919)
KLM has a Guinness World Record for being the oldest airline that is still operating under its OG name. It was established in the Netherlands amid the post-WWI recovery. It all started with one single leased aircraft, flying between London and Amsterdam.
First Intercontinental Flight
Over the decades, Albert Plesman's airline has expanded its fleet to include 115 aircraft like the Boeing 787, 737-800, 777-300 ER, and more. KLM is also credited with launching one of the first intercontinental flights in 1924, which connected Amsterdam to Jakarta. The first flight lasted 55 days, with 21 stopovers.
Avianca (Founded: 1919)
Avianca, Colombia's national airline and Latin America's first, kicked off with seaplanes flying over Colombia's tricky terrain. Started by Colombians and German immigrants, it ran mail and passenger routes along the Magdalena River. Then the Great Depression and WWII happened. And by 1940, it merged with SACO.
Jumbo Jet
It was also the first airline in the Americas to fly the legendary Boeing 747, AKA the "Jumbo Jet". With its bold red-and-white look and a name that screams pan-American pride, Avianca has stayed a big deal in global aviation.
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