These vintage photos show what air travel looked like between 1930s to 1950s

vintage airline travel

Through this photo collection, we take a journey through time to show you what air travel looked like from the 1930s to the 1950s.

While manned, heavier-than-air flight has been around since the early 1900s, it didn’t really take off as a common endeavor for two decades. Post-WWI, the aviation industry really started to grow and many commercial airlines began operating.

The Contract Air Mail Act of 1925 (also known as the Kelly Act) directly contributed to the growth of airlines and the Air Commerce Act of 1926 gave the government the responsibility for promoting air commerce, establishing airways, certifying aircraft, licensing pilots, and issuing and enforcing regulations.

In the early years of flight, pilots and the occasional passenger sat in open cockpits exposed to wind and weather. Even in Europe, where large transports carried passengers in comparative luxury, the ride was harsh, loud, and uncomfortable.

Airliners were not pressurized, so they flew at low altitudes and were often bounced about by wind and weather. Air sickness was common.

Airlines provided many amenities to ease passenger stress, but air travel remained a rigorous adventure well into the 1940s.

vintage airline travel

Waiter service aboard Imperial Airways ‘Scylla’ during its flight from London to Paris, circa 1935.

The years between World War I and World War II saw great advancements in aircraft technology. Airplanes evolved from low-powered biplanes made from wood and fabric to sleek, high-powered monoplanes made of aluminum, based primarily on the founding work of Hugo Junkers during the World War I period and its adoption by American designer William Bushnell Stout and Soviet designer Andrei Tupolev.

After World War I, experienced fighter pilots were eager to show off their skills. Many American pilots became barnstormers, flying into small towns across the country and showing off their flying abilities, as well as taking paying passengers for rides.

Eventually, the barnstormers grouped into more organized displays. Air shows sprang up around the country, with air races, acrobatic stunts, and feats of air superiority.

The air races drove engine and airframe development—the Schneider Trophy, for example, led to a series of ever faster and sleeker monoplane designs culminating in the Supermarine S.6B.

With pilots competing for cash prizes, there was an incentive to go faster. Amelia Earhart was perhaps the most famous of those on the barnstorming/air show circuit. She was also the first female pilot to achieve records such as the crossing of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

vintage airline travel

Passengers enjoying a drink and a game of cards in the cabin of an Imperial Airways plane in 1936.

Many aviation firsts occurred during this period. Long-distance flights by pioneers such as Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Alcock and Brown, Charles Lindbergh, and Amy Johnson blazed a trail that new commercial airlines soon followed.

Many of these new routes had few facilities such as modern runways, and this era also became the age of the great flying boats such as the German Dornier Do X , American Sikorsky S-42, and British Short Empire, which could operate from any stretch of clear, calm water.

vintage airline travel

Preparing lunch on the Imperial Airways airplane ‘Scylla’, 19 November 1936.

After World War II, commercial aviation grew rapidly, using mostly ex-military aircraft to transport people and cargo. This growth was accelerated by the glut of heavy and super-heavy bomber airframes like the B-29 and Lancaster that could be converted into commercial aircraft.

The DC-3 also made for easier and longer commercial flights. The first commercial jet airliner to fly was the British de Havilland Comet.

By 1952, the British state airline BOAC had introduced the Comet into scheduled service. While a technical achievement, the plane suffered a series of highly public failures, as the shape of the windows led to cracks due to metal fatigue.

The fatigue was caused by cycles of pressurization and depressurization of the cabin and eventually led to the catastrophic failure of the plane’s fuselage. By the time the problems were overcome, other jet airliner designs had already taken to the skies.

USSR’s Aeroflot became the first airline in the world to operate sustained regular jet services on 15 September 1956 with the Tupolev Tu-104. The Boeing 707 and DC-8 which established new levels of comfort, safety, and passenger expectations, ushered in the age of mass commercial air travel, dubbed the Jet Age.

In October 1947, Chuck Yeager took the rocket-powered Bell X-1 through the sound barrier. Although anecdotal evidence exists that some fighter pilots may have done so while dive-bombing ground targets during the war, this was the first controlled, level flight to exceed the speed of sound.

Further barriers of distance fell in 1948 and 1952 with the first jet crossing of the Atlantic and the first nonstop flight to Australia.

vintage airline travel

Day cabin of an Imperial Airways flying boat, most likely of the Short Empire class, in August 1936.

vintage airline travel

A sleeping berth on an Imperial Airways aircraft in March 1937.

vintage airline travel

A male flight attendant walks with his arms linked with two female flight attendants in front of a small plane in the 1940’s.

vintage airline travel

Stewardess in Le Bourget (Seine-Saint-Denis), about 1945.

vintage airline travel

Baby travels by plane in New York In July 1945.

vintage airline travel

A Douglas DC-3 airliner of Eastern Airlines (‘The Great Silver Fleet’) seen through the window of a viewing gallery at an airport, circa 1945.

vintage airline travel

Air hostess Patricia Palley attends to passengers in the decorated cabin of a Pan-American airliner over the Atlantic on December 23, 1946.

vintage airline travel

19th January 1950: Trainee air hostess, Claire Swan, during a training session in a BOAC mock aircraft.

vintage airline travel

A female instructor stands at a chalkboard, pointing to a chalk diagram of an airplane while female students take notes at their desks during a stewardess training school, 1950.

vintage airline travel

Luggage being unloaded from airplane, circa the 1950s.

vintage airline travel

A Pan American World Airways flight attendant preparing in-flight meals in the galley of an airliner, circa 1950.

vintage airline travel

A bus in bus docks at New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal. The docks are open on one side to permit exhaust fumes to escape, circa 1955.

vintage airline travel

Passengers checking in at New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal, circa 1955.

vintage airline travel

Passengers checking in their baggage at New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal, circa 1955.

vintage airline travel

New York’s East Side Airlines Terminal which operates on a 24-hour basis to provide transportation to every flight leaving from the city’s various airports, around 1955.

vintage airline travel

A TWA pilot and stewardess greet the passengers coming off the plane, ca.1950s, Cincinnati, Ohio.

(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons / Huffington Post / Business Insider Magazine / Odd Stuff Magazine / Pinterest / Flickr).

Updated on: September 10, 2022

Any factual error or typo?  Let us know.

Love Exploring

Love Exploring

Vintage Air Travel Images Through The Years

Posted: March 13, 2024 | Last updated: March 13, 2024

<p>From the early days of flight and the 'golden age of travel,' to contemporary budget airlines and the restrictions and regulations of the COVID-19 pandemic, air travel has changed dramatically over the past century.</p>  <p><strong>Click or scroll through this gallery and join us as we take a journey through time to bring you the biggest milestones in commercial aviation history, including the recently announced plans for air travel to become net zero by 2050.</strong></p>

Air travel milestones through the decades

From the early days of flight and the "golden age of travel," to contemporary budget airlines and COVID restrictions and regulations, air travel has transformed dramatically over the past century.

Click or scroll through this gallery and join us as we take a journey through time to bring you the biggest milestones in commercial aviation history, including plans for air travel to become net zero by 2050 recently announced.

<p>The story of commercial air travel begins before the 1920s, in 1914, when the world's first scheduled passenger service set off between Tampa and St Petersburg, piloted by Tony Jannus. Though commercial aviation did not take off quickly, through the 1920s more and more airlines and aviation companies tried to build on this milestone with varying degrees of success. Here, passengers wait at Croydon Airport, UK to board a Handley Page W.9 aircraft, a model used by early airlines Imperial Airways and Sabena.</p>

1920s: passengers wait to board a plane in 1929

The story of commercial air travel begins before the 1920s, in 1914, when the world's first scheduled passenger service set off between Tampa and St Petersburg, piloted by Tony Jannus. Though commercial aviation did not take off quickly, more and more companies tried to build on this milestone through the 1920s, with varying degrees of success. Here, passengers wait at Croydon Airport, UK to board a Handley Page W.9 aircraft, a model used by early airlines Imperial Airways and Sabena.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s it became common for mail to be transported by air and many airmail aircraft would also carry passengers. One such airline was Western Air Express, which merged with Delta in 1987. The airline carried its first load of mail in April 1926 and was welcoming passengers by May of the same year – this first route was Salt Lake City to Los Angeles via Las Vegas. A Fokker F-10 Western Air Express plane is pictured here in 1928.

1920s: a Western Air Express airliner in 1928

Other notable early commercial airlines included the now defunct Pan American Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which is still in operation. KLM reached destinations all over Europe, including Copenhagen, London and Paris. This photo shows Lady Heath, Britain's first female passenger-line pilot, in a KLM-owned Fokker aircraft.

1920s: Lady Heath pilots a plane for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Life onboard a 1920s aircraft was very different from that of the modern day. Flights were a lavish affair reserved only for the richest members of society. Passengers had their every need attended to and were waited on with fine food and drink. However, the ride itself wouldn't have been so comfortable. Planes traveled at a much lower altitude, so passengers were subjected to lots of noise, turbulence and long journey times.

1920s: passengers are served drinks on a French Air Union plane in 1929

<p>In-flight entertainment systems looked rather different too. Today airplane entertainment is a solitary, hi-tech affair but, in the early days of flight, passengers would typically gather around a single screen if they wanted to catch a movie. One of the earliest films to be shown up high was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's <em>The Lost World</em> in 1925 with Imperial Airways. Here, passengers on a German airliner also enjoy a movie in the year 1925.</p>

1920s: an early in-flight movie in 1925

In-flight entertainment systems looked rather different too. Today airplane entertainment is a solitary, hi-tech affair but, in the early days of flight, passengers would typically gather around a single screen if they wanted to catch a movie. One of the earliest films to be shown up high was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World in 1925 with Imperial Airways. Here, passengers on a German airliner also enjoy a movie in the year 1925.

<p>The early 1930s continued in a similar fashion to the 1920s, with airlines offering airmail delivery services and also carrying passengers. Flying was still extremely expensive and fairly uncomfortable but, <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/america-by-air/online/innovation/innovation15.cfm">according to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum</a>, the number of airline passengers grew from 6,000 in 1930 to 450,000 in 1934. Here, a woman passes on her mail to the crew of a Fokker F.10 monoplane operated by Western Air Express.</p>

1930s: a woman hands over an airmail parcel to Western Air Express staff circa 1930

The early 1930s continued in a similar fashion to the 1920s, with airlines offering airmail delivery services and also carrying passengers. Flying was still extremely expensive and fairly uncomfortable but, according to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum , the number of airline passengers grew from 6,000 in 1930 to 450,000 in 1934. Here, a woman passes on her mail to the crew of a Fokker F-10 monoplane operated by Western Air Express.

In-flight entertainment technology continued to improve too. This snap, taken in 1931, shows passengers listening to a live radio broadcast of the annual London boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities.

1930s: passengers listen to a broadcast aboard a flight in 1931

Another commercial aviation milestone was reached in 1935, when Qantas operated its first international passenger flight. The service traveled from Brisbane to Singapore, where it was picked up by British-owned Imperial Airways. This journey would set the foundations for travel between Australia and the UK in the coming decades, and was a precursor to the iconic "Kangaroo Route".

1930s: an early Anglo-Australian airliner in 1934

<p>In the 1920s and into the early 1930s, the role of flight attendant was one mostly reserved for men, who were usually referred to as "cabin boys". This was soon flipped on its head, though. The first female flight attendant, a nurse named Ellen Church, was employed in 1930 and by the middle of the decade most of these jobs went to women. The women were often also trained nurses and there were strict rules as to their age, height and weight. Before this change, this photo shows an all-male team of air stewards posing before an Eastern Air Lines plane in the early 1930s.</p>

1930s: Eastern Air Lines stewards in the 1930s

In the 1920s and into the early 1930s, the role of flight attendant was one mostly reserved for men, who were usually referred to as "cabin boys." This was soon flipped on its head, though. The first female flight attendant, a nurse named Ellen Church, was employed in 1930 and by the middle of the decade most of these jobs went to women. The women were often trained nurses and there were also strict rules as to their age, height and weight. Before this change, this photo shows an all-male team of air stewards posing before an Eastern Air Lines plane in the early 1930s.

Commercial airlines did everything they could to make passengers feel comfortable. Alongside the help of attentive staff, 1930s passengers would be able to enjoy plush aircraft cabins worlds away from the no-frills set-up of the modern day. This Imperial Airways cabin, captured circa 1935, boasted pillowy floral seats, patterned walls and curtains with decorative trim. This particular plane was generally used on a Paris–London route throughout this decade.

1930s: an Imperial Airways cabin in 1935

One 1930s invention would seriously revolutionize commercial air travel. The Douglas DC-3 had its first flight in 1935 and raised the bar when it came to commercial airliners. It was larger, faster and more comfortable than any model that had preceded it and it was soon snapped up by industry heavyweights such as Delta, TWA, American and United. A United Douglas DC-3 aircraft is pictured here cruising through the air.

1930s: a Douglas DC-3 in flight

The 1930s also saw some of the earliest commercial flights across the Atlantic. Pan American Airways was one of the forerunners, transporting passengers across the Atlantic by 1939. The Yankee Clipper aircraft or "flying boat", which was used to undertake this journey, is pictured here in Calshot, Southampton, UK after a flight.

1930s: Pan American Airways flies across the Atlantic in 1939

<p>The onset of the Second World War meant developments in commercial aviation were put on the back burner, and all resources were plunged into the war effort. However, by the end of the decade, the industry was recovering, especially since the war had given rise to new runways and military aircraft were able to be converted and put to commercial use. This 1949 shot shows Pan Am's 'Flying Cloud' clipper, the first of a group of planes to begin a service between New York and London in the 1940s. </p>

1940s: Pan American World Airways' 'Flying Cloud' clipper

The onset of the Second World War meant developments in commercial aviation were put on the back burner, and all resources were plunged into the war effort. However, by the end of the decade, the industry was recovering, especially since the war had given rise to new runways and military aircraft were able to be converted and put to commercial use. This 1949 shot shows Pan Am's 'Flying Cloud' clipper, the first of a group of planes to begin a service between New York and London in the 1940s. 

Pan Am began operating its fleet of Boeing 307 aircraft in the 1940s. The Boeing 307 was another model that propelled commercial aviation forwards, since it was the first to boast a pressurized cabin. This meant passengers (as pictured onboard here c.1945) could enjoy a comfortable ride at around 20,000 feet (6,000m). The model was also flown by TWA.

1940s: passengers aboard a Pan Am Boeing 307 aircraft circa 1945

As competition increased towards the end of this decade, the major airlines ramped up their advertising. This TWA poster advertises the Boeing 307 Stratoliner, and promises a smooth ride as the aircraft glides above the clouds. The 1940s was ultimately the decade that preceded the so-called "golden age of travel".

1940s: poster advertising TWA

As competition increased towards the end of this decade, the major airlines ramped up their advertising. This TWA poster advertises the Boeing 307 Stratoliner, and promises a smooth ride as the aircraft glides above the clouds. The 1940s was ultimately the decade that preceded the so-called "golden age of travel."

Commercial air travel boomed through the 1950s and, for the first time in history, more US passengers were traveling by air than train. The 1950s also ushered in the "jet age". The de Havilland DH 106 Comet became the world's first commercial jet airliner, debuting in 1952 with the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Here, crowds are seen waving the aircraft off as it leaves London for Johannesburg, South Africa.

1950s: crowds wave off the world's first jet airliner service

The de Havilland DH 106 Comet jet airliner was much faster than earlier piston aircraft, slicing hours off journey times and making the world smaller still. The model could hold 36 passengers and, here, one traveler on the inaugural flight enjoys ample legroom and a slap-up meal with wine. However patrons' confidence in the aircraft model plummeted in the coming years as it suffered a series of crashes.

1950s: a passenger enjoying lunch on the world's first commercial jet airliner service

The jet age was not over yet, though. The Boeing 707 jet airliner, which was introduced later in the decade, was larger and even more economical than its predecessor, and would enjoy much more commercial success. Pan American Airways began a regular service with this aircraft in 1958 and the model would remain in civil operation right up until 2019. This photograph shows crew embarking on a test flight with Pan Am back in 1958.

1950s: a test flight for the Boeing 707 jet airliner with Pan Am

Though commercial aviation was developing at an alarming rate, it hadn't quite opened up to the masses yet. In this decade, plane tickets were still very expensive, so air travel was the domain of the wealthy and elite. Fit for royalty, this BOAC flight landed Her Majesty the Queen safely in Bermuda in 1953: she visited the country just months after her coronation.

1950s: the Queen arrives in Bermuda on a BOAC flight in 1953

Without the hi-tech entertainment systems of the modern day, passengers were forced to find other ways to occupy themselves on a long flight. Flying was still a real novelty, so air stewards would often hand out postcards for passengers to document their on-board experience. Travelers would spend their flight scribbling details about their time in the air, from the fine food to the free-flowing booze.

1950s: an air hostess attends to passengers on a National Airways Corporation flight in 1959

The concept of the in-flight movie, though gaining popularity, was still not commonplace across all aircraft, and it wouldn't truly take off until the 1960s. Before this, it wasn't completely unheard of for passengers to enjoy live performances from singers and musicians. Otherwise, they'd content themselves with reading and mingling with fellow passengers and crew.

1950s: a movie projector on a United Airlines flight circa 1950

<p>The golden age of travel reigned on through the 1960s and, partly since there wasn't much else to do, dinner was a grand affair. Menus often included multiple courses, bread baskets and dishes such as steak or even lobster. In this 1967 snap, passengers are being served food onboard a Lufthansa flight. Now check out <a href="https://www.lovefood.com/gallerylist/70748/the-most-decadent-airline-menus-throughout-history">the most decadent airline menus throughout history</a>.</p>

1960s: lunch service on a Lufthansa flight in 1967

The golden age of travel reigned on through the 1960s and, partly since there wasn't much else to do, dinner was a grand affair. Menus often included multiple courses, bread baskets and dishes such as steak or even lobster. In this 1967 snap, passengers are being served food onboard a Lufthansa flight. 

Passengers are receiving similar treatment on this SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) flight in 1969. In this instance, the chef has even come to serve and greet dining first-class passengers. Flying was such an important occasion that it was common for passengers to come aboard in their finest clothes too, with women in dresses and men opting for tailored suits.

1960s: dinner aboard a SAS aircraft in 1969

The term "jet-set" was coined to refer to those who were privileged enough to travel on these new commercial jet airliners. Among the regular passengers were the biggest celebrities of the day. Here, The Beatles are pictured in their heyday, leaving a Pan Am flight in London in 1964.

1960s: The Beatles arrive in London on a Pan Am flight in 1964

In the 1960s, development on what would become one of the most iconic aircraft in commercial aviation began. The project had been floated since the 1950s, and the aim was to create a supersonic airliner that would revolutionize commercial aviation. Concorde made its maiden test flight in 1969 and here flight attendants from various airlines stand before a full-scale model of the aircraft.

1960s: flight attendants line up before a model of Concorde in the 1960s

Though many airlines initially showed interest in Concorde, numerous orders were dropped after concerns were raised as to the aircraft's noise, environmental impact and economic potential. In the end, only Air France and BOAC would operate Concorde. The airliner is pictured here at London Heathrow in 1976 as it begins service with a BOAC flight from the UK to Bahrain.

1970s: the first Concorde flight from London Heathrow to Bahrain in 1976

Concorde got the royal seal of approval (the Queen is pictured here onboard a Concorde aircraft in 1977), with its ability to cross the Atlantic in just 3.5 hours. But only a privileged few could afford to ride aboard the Concorde and it ultimately didn't shake up commercial air travel in the way it had been hoped. Canceled routes, economic setbacks and a devastating crash meant the Concorde was out of service by 2003.

1970s: the Queen on a Concorde aircraft in 1977

Concorde got the royal seal of approval (the Queen is pictured here onboard a Concorde aircraft in 1977), with its ability to cross the Atlantic in just 3.5 hours. But only a privileged few could afford to ride aboard the Concorde and it ultimately didn't shake up commercial air travel in the way it had been hoped. Cancelled routes, economic setbacks and a devastating crash meant the Concorde was out of service by 2003. 

Another major player in the 1970s was Laker Airways, which was actually founded in 1966. While Laker began as a charter service, in the 1970s it would become an early "no frills" airline, a predecessor of today's budget airlines. Pictured here is Laker's jubilant founder Freddie Laker, celebrating the airline's successes through the 1970s.

1970s: Laker Airways founder Freddie Laker celebrates the airline's success

<p>Laker Airways' Skytrain offered a lower fare service between London Gatwick and New York's JFK, which began on 26 September 1977. Like many budget airlines today, the "no frills" service meant passengers had to purchase meals onboard and weren't subject to the usual luxuries of air travel in the era. Laker also came up with ways to reduce fuel consumption and engine wear to enable the lower costs. He's pictured here celebrating with passengers aboard the Skytrain in 1979. </p>

1970s: Laker and passengers aboard Laker Airways' Skytrain

Laker Airways' Skytrain offered a lower fare service between London Gatwick and New York's JFK, which began on 26 September 1977. Like many budget airlines today, the "no frills" service meant passengers had to purchase meals onboard and weren't subject to the usual luxuries of air travel in the era. Laker also came up with ways to reduce fuel consumption and engine wear to enable the lower costs. He's pictured here celebrating with passengers aboard the Skytrain in 1979. 

Another major leap for commercial air travel in this decade came with the introduction of the Boeing 747, a wide-bodied jet aircraft able to carry many more passengers than its predecessors. Here, the American First Lady Patricia Nixon sprays Champagne onto the aircraft ahead of its maiden commercial flight from New York to London in service with Pan Am in January 1970.

1970s: the first scheduled Pan Am Boeing 747 flight

This was the first time that air travel was truly opening up to the masses. Since planes were larger, airlines were able to hold more passengers and therefore sell more tickets at a reduced price. Though flying still wasn't cheap, it was no longer only reserved for the super-rich. This 1970s shot shows the spacious cabin of a BOAC Boeing 747, filled with families, couples and other vacationers.

1970s: passengers in the cabin of a Boeing 747

This was the first time that air travel was truly opening up to the masses. Since planes were larger, airlines were able to hold more passengers and therefore sell more tickets at a reduced price. Though flying still wasn't cheap, it was no longer only reserved for the super-rich. This 1970s shot shows the spacious cabin of a BOAC Boeing 747, filled with families, couples and other holidaymakers. 

Those passengers who could afford it needn't skimp on luxury, though. Here, travelers in first class are served Champagne by a flight attendant on a Boeing 747 operated by Pan Am in 1970.

1970s: passengers are served Champagne on a Pan Am 747 flight

The long and lavish onboard lunches that characterized the "golden age of travel" weren't lost in the first-class cabin in the 1970s either. In this shot, taken on 22 January 1970, flight attendants carve ham seat-side, their trolley weighed down with bread and fine wine and spirits.

1970s: lunch is served aboard a Boeing 747

Swish onboard lounges were still commonplace for first-class guests too and most travelers would socialize with their fellow passengers over drinks. This lounge was onboard SAS's Boeing 747-B (nicknamed the "Huge Viking") in the 1970s.

1970s: a lounge on SAS's Boeing 747-B "Huge Viking"

The 1980s arrived and it wasn't kind to all commercial airlines. In this photo, at the turn of the decade, Laker can be seen celebrating further cuts to the fares of his transatlantic Skytrain service. However, there wasn't cause for celebration for long, since Pan Am also dropped the cost of its transatlantic journeys to compete. The recession of the early 1980s hit Laker hard too.

1980s: Laker celebrates further fare cuts in 1980

<p>Laker Airways collapsed in 1982, with debts amounting to $340 million. More than 6,000 passengers were left stranded in airports around the world. Here, exasperated travelers and dismayed Laker staff feel the brunt of the collapse on 5 February 1982. Now discover <a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/82971/groundbreaking-planes-that-changed-the-world?page=1">the groundbreaking planes that changed the world</a>.</p>

1980s: passengers are stranded as Laker Airways collapses in 1982

Laker Airways collapsed in 1982, saddling debts amounting to $374 million. More than 6,000 passengers were left stranded in airports around the world. Here, exasperated travelers and dismayed Laker staff feel the brunt of the collapse on 5 February 1982. 

The fate of Laker Airways didn't stop the rise of other low-cost carriers though, and Ryanair launched in 1985. Early services covered short distances, with the first flights operating from Ireland's Waterford to London Gatwick. Ryanair set the bar for today's budget airlines and it's now one of Europe's largest carriers. A branded aircraft is pictured here at Stuttgart Airport in 1988.

1980s: a Ryanair aircraft in 1988

Balancing out the rise of the low-cost carrier, Virgin Atlantic Airways was also launched in this decade. Branson's mission was to pay homage to the golden era of travel by elevating the experience of flying once more, offering passengers a luxurious but not unattainable journey. On 22 June 1984, Branson celebrates the launch of his new airline.

1980s: Richard Branson celebrates the launch of his new airline, Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984

Through this decade, as flying became more and more commonplace, the economy class cabin looked much as it does today. Lavish, multi-course meals had been mostly replaced with more humble dinners served from boxes or trays. This photo shows a SAS flight attendant serving boxed meals to passengers.

1980s: a flight attendant serves dinner on a SAS flight circa 1980s

Another major change came in 1988 when, for the first time, smoking was prohibited on US domestic flights of less than two hours. Just a year later, the law was extended to flights of six hours, which applied to almost every flight across the country. This smoking ban wasn't adopted internationally until 2000.

1980s: ashtrays on a commercial flight

The budget-airline boom continued right into the 1990s, when easyJet was launched in 1995. At first, it flew only from London Luton Airport to Scottish destinations Edinburgh and Glasgow, before expanding across Europe. By this decade, these low-cost carriers meant air travel was no longer necessarily seen as a luxury.

1990s: easyJet boss Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1995

The introduction of Ryanair and easyJet (and also Norwegian in 1993) meant pressure was put on traditional carriers, fares were pushed down and air travel became increasingly more accessible. As travelers also began booking vacations online, competitive pricing became more important than ever.

1990s: Ryanair's chief executive promotes low-fare flights

The introduction of Ryanair and easyJet (and also Norwegian in 1993) meant pressure was put on traditional carriers, fares were pushed down and air travel became increasingly more accessible. As travelers also began booking holidays online, competitive pricing became more important than ever.

This increased competition didn't help long-standing carriers such as Pan American World Airways. The struggle to compete with budget rivals – as well as the 1973 oil crisis, a well-publicized hijacking and some devastating crashes – led to Pan Am's demise. The airline finally collapsed on 4 December 1991, a significant milestone in the history of commercial aviation.

1990s: a Pan Am aircraft in 1991

The devastating events of 9/11 had an impact on commercial air travel, as well as passengers' experience at airports across the USA and beyond. In the aftermath of the tragedy, airport security was heightened significantly. One notable change was that people without a boarding pass could no longer pass through security to see their loved ones off at the gate. This photograph shows scenes at Salt Lake City International Airport on 30 September 2001.

2000s: security at Salt Lake City International Airport in 2001

Another change post-9/11 was heightened cockpit security. In past decades, it was possible for passengers to visit the cockpit. After 2001, however, cockpit doors were made much stronger and advanced locking systems meant the pilot could control who enters and deny access in the case of an emergency.

2000s: the door to an aircraft cockpit in 2001

<p>Travelers eschewed air travel in the years following 9/11 and, <a href="https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/special_reports_and_issue_briefs/issue_briefs/number_13/entire">according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics</a>, it took until 2004 for air-passenger numbers to reach their pre-9/11 peak. Commercial air travel was recovering by the end of the decade, though, with <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2009/12/technology_and_terrorism_chang.html">US air passengers numbering 769.6 million in 2007</a> – a record high. During this time, it was low-cost carriers that saw the most growth. </p>

2000s: an easyJet aircraft flying in 2009

Travelers eschewed air travel in the years following 9/11 and, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics , it took until 2004 for air-passenger numbers to reach their pre-9/11 peak. Commercial air travel was recovering by the end of the decade, though, with US air passengers numbering 769.6 million in 2007 – a record high. During this time, it was low-cost carriers that saw the most growth. 

<p>Another significant change during this decade was the way travelers were choosing to book their flights. <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2009/12/technology_and_terrorism_chang.html">According to PhoCusWright</a>, a tourism research company, 2009 was the first year that more than half of all travel-related bookings were made online. This placed even more pressure on airlines to be competitive and offer the best value for money.</p>

2000s: a traveler books flights online

Another significant change during this decade was the way travelers were choosing to book their flights. According to PhoCusWright , a tourism research company, 2009 was the first year that more than half of all travel-related bookings were made online. This placed even more pressure on airlines to be competitive and offer the best value for money.

<p>The internet hasn't just infiltrated the booking process. Nowadays it's commonplace for carriers to offer in-flight Wi-Fi, either as part of the package, or for an extra premium. In a major shift from the golden age of travel, this means that flying today is no longer just about pleasure and relaxation – it's also about catching up with work and keeping in touch with people on the ground. Online check-in and smartphone boarding passes have also revolutionized the airport experience over the years.</p>

2010s: a man works on his laptop during a flight

The internet hasn't just infiltrated the booking process. Nowadays it's commonplace for carriers to offer in-flight Wi-Fi, either as part of the package, or for an extra premium. In a major shift from the golden age of travel, this means that flying today is no longer just about pleasure and relaxation – it's also about catching up with work and keeping in touch with people on the ground. Online check-in and smartphone boarding passes have also revolutionized the airport experience over the years.

Another relatively modern phenomenon is premium economy class, which offers a slightly more elevated experience than regular economy, but without the luxury and sky-high prices of business class. Though the concept was invented before the 2010s, it's in this decade that premium economy has really taken off with more and more airlines offering passengers this option. The usual perks include more legroom, wider seats and extra baggage allowance.

2010s: a sign for premium economy class in Hong Kong International Airport

<p>The main change in the last decade was the sheer volume of travelers: more and more people were flying than ever before, and the sky-high numbers had then shown little sign of tailing off. In fact, in 2017, the International Air Transport Association had projected that <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/urban-expeditions/transportation/air-travel-fuel-emissions-environment/">there could be 7.2 billion air travel passengers by 2035</a>.</p>

2010s: an American Airlines flight in 2017

The main change in the last decade was the sheer volume of travelers: more and more people were flying than ever before, and the sky-high numbers had previously shown little sign of tailing off. In fact, in 2017, the International Air Transport Association had projected that there could be 7.2 billion air travel passengers by 2035 .

<p>The COVID-19 pandemic has <a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/guides/93980/coronavirus-travel-cruise-latest-foreign-commonwealth-office-advice-safe">rocked the travel and aviation industry</a> and both passengers and staff are currently adjusting to a new (and unpredictable) ‘normal’. Ever-changing international travel restrictions have left airlines up in the air (figuratively, not literally), and major players including easyJet, American Airlines and British Airways have suffered severe financial losses, resulting in job cuts. This photo from 1 June 2020 shows out-of-service planes at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport.</p>

2020s: grounded planes at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, Germany

The COVID-19 pandemic rocked the travel and aviation industry and both passengers and staff had to adjust to a new (and unpredictable) ‘normal’. Ever-changing international travel restrictions left airlines up in the air (figuratively, not literally), and major players including easyJet, American Airlines and British Airways suffered severe financial losses, resulting in job cuts. This photo from 1 June 2020 shows out-of-service planes at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport.

<p>As “air bridges” or “travel corridors” have been announced over the past couple of months, civil aviation has resumed at a crawling pace – though, for passengers choosing to fly, the airport and onboard experience currently looks rather different around the world. Protocols and restrictions vary from airport to airport, and from airline to airline, but typically involve mandatory face coverings, contactless check-ins, fewer open airport facilities, social distancing and, in some cases, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-test-heathrow-airport-travel-trial-quarantine-countries-screen-a9694981.html">COVID-19 tests</a>. A passenger is seen here in July 2020 receiving a temperature check at a BA desk at London’s Heathrow Airport.</p>

2020s: a passenger undergoes a temperature check at Heathrow Airport

Towards the end of 2020, civil aviation began to resume at a crawling pace, with the announcement of some 'air bridges' or 'travel corridors'. For passengers choosing to fly, airport experiences looked rather different around the world. Protocols and restrictions varied from airport to airport, and from airline to airline, but typically involved mandatory face coverings, contactless check-ins and fewer open airport facilities. A passenger is seen here in July 2020 receiving a temperature check at a BA desk at London’s Heathrow Airport.

<p>Passengers can currently expect a new experience onboard too. Depending on the airline – and in efforts to reduce touch points and contact between staff and passengers – this might extend to a lack of inflight meals or trolley services, and the reduction of little luxuries like in-flight magazines, blankets and the like. Masks are mandatory on many flights too, while some carriers have been <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/21/travel/crowded-flights-coronavirus.html">blocking middle seats</a> to allow passengers more space. Love this? <a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/95707/heres-what-the-future-of-travel-looks-like?page=1">Here's what the future of travel looks like</a>.</p>

2020s: a masked flight attendant on a Brussels Airlines plane

Passengers had to get used to new onboard experiences too. Depending on the airline – and in efforts to reduce touch points and contact between staff and passengers – changes were extended to a lack of inflight meals or trolley services, and the reduction of little luxuries like in-flight magazines, blankets and the like. Masks were mandatory on most flights too, while some carriers blocked the middle seats to allow passengers more space.

<p>The aviation industry has continued to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic into 2021, though the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts <a href="https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pr/2021-02-03-02/">a 50.4% uptick in demand for flights from 2020</a>. With vaccine programs being rolled out around the world, international borders are beginning to open. Countries such as the UK are operating a “traffic light system”, ranking destinations by ever-changing COVID-19 “risk” levels, while US borders still remain closed to tourists.</p>  <p><a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/83700/the-worlds-best-airport-lounges?page=1"><strong>Want more? Read on for the world's best airport lounges</strong></a></p>

2020s: international air travel gets a slow lift off

The aviation industry continued to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic into 2021, though the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicted  a 50.4% uptick in demand for flights from 2020 . With vaccine programs being rolled out around the world, international borders finally opened. 

<p>Around the world, testing and vaccines are building bridges between destinations. For example, Canada’s borders are now open to double-jabbed Americans, and will soon be unlocked for vaccinated travelers from around the world too. Double-jabbed UK travelers can also fly to “amber” European hot spots including France, Spain and Portugal without quarantining on return (though they must take PCR tests). New Zealand and Australia also formed a “quarantine-free travel bubble”, though this has been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/23/new-zealand-shuts-australia-travel-bubble-as-sydneys-covid-outbreak-worsens">temporarily suspended</a>. EU citizens can now download <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57665765">a vaccine “passport”</a> (pictured) allowing them to cross EU borders with minimal restrictions too.</p>

2020s: a passenger holds up an EU 'vaccine passport'

Around the world, testing and vaccines built bridges between destinations in staggered phases. For example, Canada’s borders first opened to double-jabbed Americans, before being unlocked for vaccinated travelers from around the world too. Double-jabbed UK travelers initially could fly to 'amber' European hotspots including France, Spain and Portugal without quarantining on return (though they had to take PCR tests). New Zealand and Australia also formed a 'quarantine-free travel bubble'. EU citizens could download  a vaccine 'passport'  (pictured) allowing them to cross EU borders with minimal restrictions.

<p>In late September 2022, the world's first all-electric plane jetted off for an eight-minute flight above the skies of Washington, USA. Alice, the project name that stuck during planning in 2016, is the brainchild of American-based company <a href="https://www.eviation.com/">Eviation</a>, and will be fit for both passenger and cargo use by 2027. The successful maiden flight reached an altitude of 3,500 feet (1,067m) and the zero-emissions plane was powered by two 640-kilowatt electric motors. It is hoped Alice will operate flights ranging from 150 to 250 miles (240-402km), and will come in three different configurations: a nine-passenger commuter, a six-seater executive cabin and an eCargo version.</p>  <p><a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/151324/mesmerising-images-from-the-drone-photo-awards-2022?page=1"><strong>Now check out the mesmerizing photos from the Drone Photography Awards</strong></a></p>

2020s: world's first all-electric plane takes to the skies

In late September 2022, the world's first all-electric plane jetted off for an eight-minute flight above the skies of Washington, USA. Alice, the project name that stuck during planning in 2016, is the brainchild of American-based company Eviation , and will be fit for both passenger and cargo use by 2027. The successful maiden flight reached an altitude of 3,500 feet and the zero-emissions plane was powered by two 640-kilowatt electric motors. It is hoped Alice will operate flights ranging from 150 to 250 miles, and will come in three different configurations: a nine-passenger commuter, a six-seater executive cabin and an eCargo version.

<p>Cabin crew requirements have changed over the decades; as we've seen already, the 1930s followed strict rules regarding age, height and weight, and since then tailored uniforms and specific hairstyles became the norm. But the 2020s have welcomed a more relaxed approach and in September 2022 Virgin Atlantic <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/sep/28/virgin-atlantic-staff-can-choose-which-uniform-to-wear-no-matter-their-gender">ditched gender-specific uniforms</a> allowing crew, pilots and ground staff to choose whichever they feel most comfortable in. Earlier in the year staff were also permitted to keep their tattoos visible, marking the first UK airline to do so.</p>

2020s: relaxed uniform policies are welcomed

Cabin crew requirements have changed over the decades; as we've seen already, the 1930s followed strict rules regarding age, height and weight, and since then tailored uniforms and specific hairstyles became the norm. But the 2020s have welcomed a more relaxed approach and in September 2022 Virgin Atlantic ditched gender-specific uniforms allowing crew, pilots and ground staff to choose whichever they feel most comfortable in. Earlier in the year staff were also permitted to keep their tattoos visible, marking the first UK airline to do so.

<p>We don't know for sure what the future holds for air travel. But the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63165607">recently announced its support for a net zero goal for the aviation industry by 2050</a>. However, environmental campaigners say the plans don't go far enough, believing more measures were needed to ensure the 193 member countries of the ICAO meet the goal and hold airlines accountable. </p>  <p><a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/151324/mesmerising-images-from-the-drone-photo-awards-2022?page=1"><strong>Now check out the mesmerizing photos from the Drone Photography Awards</strong></a></p>

2050: air travel industry set to become carbon neutral

We don't know for sure what the future holds for air travel. But the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)  recently announced its support for a net zero goal for the aviation industry by 2050 . However, environmental campaigners say the plans don't go far enough, believing more measures were needed to ensure the 193 member countries of the ICAO meet the goal and hold airlines accountable. 

Now check out the mesmerizing photos from the Drone Photography Awards

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Vintage

A Guide to Collecting Vintage Airline Posters

Vintage airline posters offer a unique and nostalgic glimpse into the history of air travel, capturing the excitement and glamour of the golden age of aviation. These posters showcase the beauty of graphic design and often feature stunning illustrations and typography. In this guide, we will explore the appeal of vintage airline posters, their evolution over time, the factors to consider when collecting, and tips for starting and expanding your collection.

The Appeal of Vintage Airline Posters

Vintage airline posters are not just pieces of advertising; they are also works of art that represent a bygone era. They capture the spirit of adventure and romance associated with air travel, evoking images of exotic destinations, luxurious accommodations, and stylish passengers. Collectors appreciate these posters for their vibrant colors, striking designs, and the stories they tell about the history of aviation and travel.

The Evolution of Airline Poster Art and Design

As you explore the evolution of airline poster art and design, it’s essential to appreciate the cultural and technological context in which these posters were created. The changing styles and themes of airline posters are a reflection of the world in which they were produced, offering valuable insights into the history of aviation, travel, and graphic design. By understanding these broader contexts, you can develop a more profound appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship that went into creating these captivating advertisements.

Early Air Travel

In the early days of air travel, airline posters were primarily used to promote the novelty and excitement of flying. These posters often featured images of daring pilots, magnificent aircraft, and spectacular aerial views. The art deco style was prevalent during this period, resulting in bold, geometric designs that captured the essence of the era.

The Jet Age

The jet age brought significant advancements in aviation technology, allowing for faster and more comfortable flights. Airline posters from this era often showcased the sleek, modern designs of jet aircraft and highlighted the allure of glamorous destinations. The mid-century modern design movement heavily influenced the style of these posters, with clean lines, minimalistic elements, and bold colors taking center stage.

The Modern Era

Contemporary airline posters continue to celebrate the wonders of air travel while incorporating modern design trends and techniques. Digital art and photography have become more prevalent, and artists continue to experiment with innovative styles and themes.

Factors to Consider When Collecting Vintage Airline Posters

Considering the various factors that influence the value and desirability of vintage airline posters is essential for making informed decisions as a collector. By understanding these factors, you can better identify and evaluate potential additions to your collection, ensuring that you make wise investments and build a collection that reflects your passion for aviation history and art. Additionally, being knowledgeable about these factors can help you better appreciate and care for your collection, as you’ll be more attuned to the unique qualities and significance of each poster.

Rarity and Demand

The rarity and demand for a particular poster can significantly impact its value. Limited edition prints, discontinued designs, and historically significant posters tend to be more sought after by collectors.

The condition of a vintage airline poster is crucial to its value. Posters in excellent condition, with vibrant colors and no significant damage, will typically command higher prices.

Historical Significance

Posters that represent a significant event, era, or milestone in aviation history can be more desirable to collectors, increasing their value.

Artist and Design

The reputation and talent of the artist who created the poster can also influence its value. Well-known artists with a history of producing high-quality and visually appealing works may be more collectible.

Tips for Starting and Expanding Your Vintage Airline Poster Collection

After establishing your goals and preferences for your vintage airline poster collection, it’s important to remain flexible and open to discovering new interests along the way. As you learn more about the history and art of airline posters, you may find yourself drawn to particular themes or styles that you hadn’t initially considered. Embrace these discoveries and allow your collection to grow and evolve organically, reflecting your deepening appreciation for the world of vintage airline posters.

Set Your Goals and Preferences

Determine your focus and preferences, such as the era, airline, artist, or design style you wish to collect. This will help guide your search and create a cohesive collection.

Research and Educate Yourself

Learn as much as you can about the history of airline posters and the specific designs that interest you. Understanding the background and context of the posters you collect will enhance your appreciation for them and help you make informed decisions when purchasing.

Network with Other Collectors

Connect with fellow collectors through online forums, social media groups, and local clubs. These connections can provide valuable information, resources, and potential buying or trading opportunities.

Attend Trade Shows, Auctions, and Poster Clubs

Trade shows, auctions, and poster clubs are excellent places to find vintage airline posters and meet other collectors. Attending these events can help you discover rare items, learn about current market trends, and expand your network.

Proper Storage and Preservation

Proper storage and preservation are essential to maintaining the condition and value of your vintage airline posters. Store your posters in a clean, dry, and temperature-controlled environment to prevent damage. Utilize archival-quality materials such as acid-free mats and UV-resistant glass when framing your posters to protect them from light exposure and other environmental factors.

Collecting vintage airline posters is a rewarding hobby that allows enthusiasts to connect with the history of air travel and appreciate the beauty of graphic design. By understanding the different eras of poster art and design, considering factors such as rarity and historical significance, and following the tips outlined in this guide, you can start and expand your vintage airline poster collection with confidence.

  • What are the different eras of airline poster art and design? Early air travel, the jet age, and the modern era represent the main periods of airline poster art and design.
  • What factors should I consider when collecting vintage airline posters? Consider factors such as rarity, demand, condition, historical significance, artist, and design when collecting vintage airline posters.
  • How can I find and connect with other vintage airline poster collectors? Network with fellow collectors through online forums, social media groups, local clubs, trade shows, and auctions.
  • How do I properly store and preserve my vintage airline poster collection? Store your posters in a clean, dry, and temperature-controlled environment, and use archival-quality materials when framing them.
  • Why is it essential to research and educate myself about the posters I collect? Understanding the history and context of the posters you collect will enhance your appreciation for them and help you make informed decisions when purchasing.

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A Guide to Collecting Vintage Aircraft Models

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Collecting vintage aircraft models is a fascinating and rewarding hobby for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike. These intricate replicas offer a glimpse into the past, capturing the spirit of…

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Collector’s Guide: Aviation & Airline Posters

Nicholas d. lowry breaks down the best selection of aviation and airline designs to collect for the plane spotter in all of us….

People collect aviation posters for a number of different reasons. There are those who focus on military-themed posters from the first and second world wars, that promote the air forces; those who focus on images from the earliest days of heavier-than-air flights; people who are enchanted by the wonderful destinations illustrated by different airline companies that lie at the end of their routes; and those who relish the joy of finely rendered aircraft, distributed by companies seeking to promote their technological prowess and their fleets of planes. 

There are incredible images in each of these categories, but my favorite is the last category. Below is a selection of images related to the planes themselves.

The Invention of Flights & Early Days of Air Travel

After their initial flight in 1903, the Wright Brothers were met with skepticism at home and virtually ignored by the American press. But Europe was a different story. After demonstration flights in France in 1908, they were lauded as heroes across the continent. They courted military contracts on both sides of the Atlantic, with Wilbur traveling to Europe and Orville staying back in America to do demonstrations for the U.S. Government. They crisscrossed the ocean as they attempted to lure patrons to their project. Upon their successful return from Europe, they were first greeted by President Taft in the White House and then returned to their hometown of Dayton for a massive two-day celebration that included parades, concerts, fireworks and receptions, but (perhaps ironically) no flying demonstrations. The poster below is an exceptional historical document  

Perhaps the most fanciful and enchanting of all aviation posters is an image from 1910 of a pilot flying in an open-air cockpit, dropping roses on the French Cote d’Azur. In the early days aviation competitions were all the rage, and this poster advertises a 15-day extravaganza in the south of France. Its brilliance derives from the ingenious, deceptively-simple idea of putting the viewer higher up than the plane, looking down toward the ground.  

vintage airline travel

The down-from-above technique was used again, and again, quite effectively circa 1933 in an image for Imperial Airways, where the viewers can see the sinews of the Ganges River flowing through Delhi, beneath the wings of a Handley Page 42, the  Hannibal  (recognizable by its call letters G-AAGX and nicknamed “the banana” because of its ungainly shape). 

Imperial Airways operated between 1924 and 1939 and were responsible for some of the most memorable aviation posters, such as the poster from 1939 of a fleet of Short S-23C Empire Class Flying Boats led by the “Canopus.” Ultimately 31 of these aircraft went into service, each one’s name beginning with the letter “C”. The military-style formation of these planes ominously foreshadows the war that would descend over Europe just a few short months after the poster was released. 

Italian Aerial Lines & Aeroput Jugoslavija Posters

Within Europe, Italy was one of the last countries to develop its commercial aviation industry. However, by the mid-1930s, Italy had progressed far beyond most of Europe, ranking only behind Germany and France in the number of passengers carried annually. A poster for Italian Aerial Lines seems to predate 1934 when three of Italy’s largest airline companies banded together to form a single, government-owned company, Ala Littoria.

vintage airline travel

Founded in 1927, Aeroput was the national airline of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In a 1931 poster, a de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth monoplane flies through a daytime sky, while on the opposite side of the poster, a train travels along the same route by night. The message, and the effect, is literally, “Earth roads are tiring, airways are resting.” In other words, spend a comfortable day traveling by air, and not an uncomfortable night, or longer, traveling by train. The call numbers on the side of the aircraft UN SAA indicate that it was introduced into the Aeroput fleet in 1931. The small plane could seat three people and was used as an air taxi. 

Related Reading:

Qantas empire airways posters.

vintage airline travel

Left: Rhys Williams, Qantas Empire Airways , circa 1938. Sold November 2022 for $8,125

Qantas Empire Airways came into being in 1934, the result of a merger between Britain’s Imperial Airways and Qantas. It operated until 1947, when the company was purchased by the government, and it became Australia’s flagship airline. The incredible aircraft pictured on this poster does not seem to have ever existed and was most likely the artist’s rendition of a futuristic vessel, in keeping with the slogan of the poster, “Out of a Great Past a Greater Future.” 

TWA Posters

A unique, graphic, bird’s-eye view of the Grand Canyon, seen through the window of a TWA plane, identifiable via the lettering on the wing tip. The image was so popular that TWA used it with several different variants of text. Note also the curtains around the window, an indication of the earlier, genteel days of air travel. 

vintage airline travel

TWA’s exceptional twilight bird’s-eye view of New York City exists with several text variations and different colored borders. In an awkward bit of marketing, the livery on the side of the Constellation reads “Trans World Airline” – the company’s official name that it stopped using two years earlier, in 1950. The smaller text in the poster correctly cites its new name in the plural, Trans World Airlines. “Sky-Tourist” was an early euphemism for economy class. The aircraft is one of the mythical of midcentury aviation, a Lockheed Constellation (Connie), with its triple-tail configuration and dolphin-shaped fuselage. 

Pan Am Posters

vintage airline travel

Left: Paul George Lawler, Fly South Swa Isles / Via Pan American , circa 1938. Sold November 2022 for $40,000.

One of the most iconic and desirable of all the early Pan Am flying boat posters, the image of the Boeing 314 Flying Clipper landing in a tropical lagoon, captured and continues to capture the imagination of travelers. The location shown on the poster is an imaginary composite of several renowned bays throughout the South Pacific. It has been speculated that the view may be Tahiti, Pago Pago or Diamond Head; however, the physical characteristics depicted do not coincide with the actual geography of any of these islands.  

vintage airline travel

Larger than life, the  Honolulu Clipper  is disgorging passengers, all of whom are smiling at the warm island welcome they are receiving. Considered “one of the most coveted airline posters [the image] celebrates the arrival in Honolulu from San Francisco of Pan American’s most advanced, largest and last flying boat, the Boeing 314. Faster, pressurized landplanes would soon make it obsolete, but the Boeing 314 briefly took transoceanic flying to a new level of luxury with its dining lounge, sleeping berths for everyone and aft honeymoon suite” (Airways p. 80). 

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Vintage airline posters | 10 nostalgic time travel gifts.

Last updated on March 24th, 2021.

Vintage airline posters

Without running the risk of sounding like my grandmother, I’m really missing the good old days of air travel.

The days of roaming carefree around the airport, sans mask — but always with a bottle of hand sanitizer. A time when I practiced social distancing in the airport, but simply because I preferred it that way.

An old soul by nature, there’s one thing satisfying my nostalgia for travel days gone by: vintage airline posters.

Travel glory days

Bright, bold and very retro, these vintage airline posters are a delight to look at. It makes little difference that I wasn’t alive at the time; just seeing them makes my old travel soul happy.

Ideal for Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or just because, these vintage airline posters make a unique, and special, gift.

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1. Imperial Airways — New York

Ever heard of Imperial Airways? You’re not alone.

The British commercial airline operated from 1924 to 1939. It was a pioneer in long-distance plane travel, primarily running flights from the UK to former empire destinations.

One such flight was from London to New Delhi — a journey that would take around 8 days. The airline eventually merged into the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1939.

Decades later, it would merge with British European Airways to finally become British Airways.

Vintage on print — vintage airline posters

This poster shows the popular Imperial Airways flight from London to New York. While no year is stated in the description, its style suggests it could be from the early 1930s.

An A4-sized print, the poster comes is delivered on premium quality glossy photo paper. To protect the poster, it’s shipped in a board-backed envelope and marked ‘do not bend’ on the front and back.

2. TWA — San Francisco

Trans World Airlines, more commonly known as TWA, operated from 1930 to 2001. The American airline only flew domestic routes, before branching out to the rest of the world in 1939.

This poster was designed by renowned American artist, David Klein. He’s best remembered for the travel posters he designed for TWA in the 1950s and 1960s.

Bold colors and iconic images, Klein’s work played a big role in the promotion of air travel.

This canvas print poster measures 24X16in and is delivered on an 18mm pinewood frame.

3. Northwest Airlines — Hong Kong 

Featuring the iconic Hong Kong junk boat, and a glamorous Chinese woman, is this offering from Northwest Airlines (NWA).

The company started in 1926, becoming a major player in the trans-Pacific market after WW2. Before merging with Delta Air Lines in 2010, NWA carried more passengers across the Pacific than any other US airline.

It first began by transporting mail in 1926 from Minneapolis to Chicago, before switching to passengers in 1927. Its first international flight was to Winnipeg, Canada, a year later.

Choose your size — vintage airline posters

The vintage travel poster comes in 4 different sizes: A4 (297x1210mm) all the way to a grand A1 (841x610mm).

A high-quality poster, it comes on 180gsm matte photo paper.

4. Sabena Airlines — Texas

The Societé Anonyme Belge d’Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne, or Sabena Airlines, was Belgium’s national carrier from 1923 to 2001.

Its first commercial flight was from Brussels to London, via Ostend, in July 1923. Sabena Airline’s transatlantic route to New York took place in June 1946, after which it would expand its US destinations.

An international collaboration — vintage airline posters

As shown on the poster , Sabena Airlines operated in conjunction with Braniff International Airways.

The American airline was founded in 1930. It primarily operated routes to the midwestern, southwestern United States, Mexico and Central and South America.

Braniff had several hubs in the US, the main ones being in Dallas, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas.

With its wild-western style font and iconic Texan landscape, this vintage airline poster’s a great one for the collection.

5. British European Airways — Switzerland

From the days when using stereotype images was the norm, comes this cartoon-style poster from British European Airways (BEA).

The airline operated from 1946 to 1974 before the merger with BOAC to become British Airways.

Promoting the cultural tradition and beauty of Switzerland, this colorful vintage airline poster also highlights another interesting fact.

First in flight — vintage airline posters

The Viscount 800 was part of a fleet of British planes which used turbine engines. In fact, BEA operated the world’s first turbine-powered flight with a Viscount 630 prototype from London to Paris.

Post WW2, it became one of the most successful fleets for several reasons. From panoramic windows to comfortable cabin conditions, passengers enjoyed flying BEA.

​6. Air India — India

With elephants, flag bearers and mythical birds, this vintage airline poster from Air India has it all. It’s also one of the only posters that cleverly incorporates its name into its slogan.

The airline was founded in 1932, first named Tata Airlines after the name of its founder, J.R.D. Tata.

After WW2, Tata Airlines became a public limited company, changing its name to Air India. Its first international long-distance flight took place in June 1948 from Bombay to London.

7. Aerolineas Argentinas — Buenos Aires

A top 5 destination of mine for years now, I couldn’t not include this fabulous vintage airline poster of Buenos Aires.

Showcasing drawings of the beach, landmarks and its famous gauchos, this poster’s a must for fellow Argentine-philes.

Aerolineas Argentinas was founded in 1949, and is the country’s largest airline as well as its flag carrier.

In late 1950, the airline operated a weekly flight from Buenos Aires to Frankfurt via several cities. These included Rio de Janeiro, Natal, Dakar, Lisbon and Paris.

This glossy poster comes in A4 size and is delivered in board-backed envelopes to avoid any damage.

“ Bright, bold and very retro, these vintage airline posters are a delight to look at. ” 

8. east african airways — kenya.

Another vintage airline poster with an elephant taking centre stage, this time, of the African variety.

‘Make a date with the sun’ is a fitting slogan for a poster promoting Kenya as a travel destination.

East African Airways (EAA) was founded in 1946, and was jointly run by 3 countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Routes were primarily to destinations in the region such as Mombasa, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.

The airline launched its first international weekly service to the UK in 1957, which at first was operated by BOAC. EAA later branched out to other European destinations, as well as to countries in the Indian subcontinent.

​ 9. United Airlines — China

United Airlines was formed in 1931 following a merger of 4 airlines. As of May 2019, United had the third largest fleet in the world, after American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

With the Oriental-style font and butterfly symbolism, this vintage China poster will brighten up any living space.

Digitally printed on premium satin card, the poster’s available in A3 and A4 (210mm x 297mm or 297mm x 420mm). There’s also the option to order it with or without a frame.

10. Pan-American — Glasgow

Capturing the charm and spirit of Glasgow is this vintage airline poster from Pan American World Airways (Pan Am).

A young woman dressed in traditional Scottish attire performing a dance dominates the image. In the background, a man plays the bagpipes against the green of the Scottish highlands.

It starts in Florida — vintage airline posters

Founded in 1927 in Key West, Florida, Pan Am was the largest international airline of the United States.

The company was famous for its clipper planes that they used in the late 1930s and 1940s. A seaplane service in 1937 launched the service between the US to the UK and France.

The company ceased operations in 1991 after filing for bankruptcy. Delta Air Lines later acquired Pan Am’s transatlantic routes, quickly becoming a major carrier across the Atlantic.

What do you think of these vintage airline posters? Is there one that appeals to you in particular? Let me know in the comments below.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.

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Drawing of Moscow landmarks - vintage airline posters

Welcome to my site. I'm Lisa, an Italy-based travel and lifestyle blogger behind Following the Rivera. Find out more about me and my story.

66 thoughts on “ Vintage airline posters | 10 nostalgic time travel gifts ”

Really enjoyed this as I love vintage travel of all kinds 🙂

You and me both Carole 🙂

These are great posters and you definitely aren’t the only one missing flying. Never will I take travel for granted after this

I completely agree, it’s made us appreciate the small things about traveling

Wow so interesting and very quaint. I particularly like the Pan Am one of Glasgow.

It’s a good one and very colorful!

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Werdmühlestrasse 5, CH-8001 Zürich,  +41 (0)44 221 97 78, Mobile: +41 (0)79 639 01 39, info(at)placart.ch

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Vintage, original, and amazing airline posters from the 1950s and 60s. And impossible to find. This is art from a different era, when flying was glamorous and only for the jet set. We have sourced vintage originals from flea markets, dealers and other secret spots. 

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Vintage Airline Poster - British Airways, Concorde

Vintage airline art - california redwoods twa, vintage airline art - koalas by qantas, vintage airline poster - united airlines, hawaii, vintage airline poster - new york - fly twa by david klein, 1960s, vintage airline poster - qantas canada with moose by harry rogers, vintage airline poster - spain - fly twa by david klein, 1960s, vintage airline poster - twa los angeles, vintage airline art - tiger and singapore by qantas, vintage airline poster - hawaii outrigger, stan galli for united air lines, vintage airline poster - alitalia 1955, vintage airline poster - south africa/qantas.

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World Tourism Travel Posters

Canada - vintage tourism posters.

Visit Historical and Gay - Montreal, Canada - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Visit Historical and Gay - Montreal, Canada

Roger Couillard

$12.98 - $199.98

Niagara Falls -  Ontario, Canada - New York, USA - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Niagara Falls - Ontario, Canada - New York, USA

Canada - River Log Driving - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada - River Log Driving

Jean Doré

Banff in the Canadian Rockies - Lake Louise National Park, Canada - Canadian Pacific Railway Company - 1936 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Banff in the Canadian Rockies - Lake Louise National Park, Canada - Canadian Pacific Railway Company - 1936

James Crockart

Canada for Big Game! Travel Canadian Pacific Railway - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada for Big Game! Travel Canadian Pacific Railway

Peter Ewart c.1950

Canadian Pacific Railway Company - CP FP9A 4040 Diesel Locomotive Train - CPR Logo Beaver Shield - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canadian Pacific Railway Company - CP FP9A 4040 Diesel Locomotive Train - CPR Logo Beaver Shield

Peter Ewart

Canada - Aviation - Maple Leaf Landscape - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada - Aviation - Maple Leaf Landscape

Jean Marie Nabrin

Montreal - The Paris of North America - Fly TCA (Trans-Canada Air Lines) - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Montreal - The Paris of North America - Fly TCA (Trans-Canada Air Lines)

Jacques Le Flaguais

Winter at the Chantecler Hotel - Woman Skier - High in the Laurentian Mountains - Sainte Adèle, Quebec Province, Canada - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Winter at the Chantecler Hotel - Woman Skier - High in the Laurentian Mountains - Sainte Adèle, Quebec Province, Canada

Largest and Fastest to the Orient - Canadian Pacific Steamships - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Largest and Fastest to the Orient - Canadian Pacific Steamships

James McKell c.1924

Canada - Geese - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada - Geese

Vintage Travel Poster

Niagara Falls New York - c. 1968 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Niagara Falls New York - c. 1968

Vintage Airline Travel Poster

Toronto, Canada - c. 1968 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Toronto, Canada - c. 1968

Cruise the Great Lakes - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1939 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Cruise the Great Lakes - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1939

Norman Fraser

Alaska - and the Yukon - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1936 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Alaska - and the Yukon - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1936

British Columbia - The Vacation-Land That Has Everything! - c. 1947 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

British Columbia - The Vacation-Land That Has Everything! - c. 1947

Banff Springs Hotel - Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Banff Springs Hotel - Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930's

Percy Trompf

Québec - Château Frontenac - Canadian Pacific Railway Company - Saint Lawrence River - c. 1950 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Québec - Château Frontenac - Canadian Pacific Railway Company - Saint Lawrence River - c. 1950

Quebec, Canada - Ski Fun in the Provence of Quebec (La Province de Québec) - c. 1930 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Quebec, Canada - Ski Fun in the Provence of Quebec (La Province de Québec) - c. 1930

Victoria, Canada - The Empress Hotel - a Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1950 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Victoria, Canada - The Empress Hotel - a Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1950

Lake Louise Canada - Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1935 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Lake Louise Canada - Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1935

Charles James Greenwood

Province of Quebec (La Province de Québec) - Fly Fishing Fisherman - c. 1930 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Province of Quebec (La Province de Québec) - Fly Fishing Fisherman - c. 1930

The Royal York Hotel - Toronto, Canada - Canadian Pacific Hotels - c. 1929 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

The Royal York Hotel - Toronto, Canada - Canadian Pacific Hotels - c. 1929

The Royal York, Toronto - Lake Ontario - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1950's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

The Royal York, Toronto - Lake Ontario - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1950's

Across Canada (A Través del Canadá) - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1947 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Across Canada (A Través del Canadá) - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1947

Mount Stephen, British Columbia - Home via Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Mount Stephen, British Columbia - Home via Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930's

Banff, Canadian Rockies - Indian Days - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Banff, Canadian Rockies - Indian Days - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930's

Banff, Canada - Rockies - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1925 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Banff, Canada - Rockies - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1925

Game Birds - Canadian Pacific Railway - Mallard Ducks - c. 1941 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Game Birds - Canadian Pacific Railway - Mallard Ducks - c. 1941

Thomas Hall

Travel Canadian Pacific Railway - Royal Hudson 2850 Steam Locomotive - c. 1942 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Travel Canadian Pacific Railway - Royal Hudson 2850 Steam Locomotive - c. 1942

Québec - Château Frontenac - Ski Resort - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1938 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Québec - Château Frontenac - Ski Resort - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1938

Thomas (Tom) Hall

Canada for Big Game - Canadian Pacific Railway - Moose - c. 1939 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada for Big Game - Canadian Pacific Railway - Moose - c. 1939

Golf at Saint Andrews - The Algonquin - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1939 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Golf at Saint Andrews - The Algonquin - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1939

Trout Fly Fishing - Canadian Pacific Railway - Brook Trout Fish - c. 1942 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Trout Fly Fishing - Canadian Pacific Railway - Brook Trout Fish - c. 1942

Antilles - Empress of Canada - Canadian Pacific Navigation - c. 1969 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Antilles - Empress of Canada - Canadian Pacific Navigation - c. 1969

Vintage Cruise Ship Poster

5 Day Great Lakes Cruises - Canadian Pacific Navigation - c. 1939 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

5 Day Great Lakes Cruises - Canadian Pacific Navigation - c. 1939

St. Lawrence Seaway - New York, Quebec, Montreal - Canadian Pacific - c. 1938 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

St. Lawrence Seaway - New York, Quebec, Montreal - Canadian Pacific - c. 1938

Holidays in Canada - Canadian Pacific - c. 1925 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Holidays in Canada - Canadian Pacific - c. 1925

Leonard Richmond

Canada for Holidays - Canadian Pacific - c. 1937 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada for Holidays - Canadian Pacific - c. 1937

Trans-Canada Limited - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1925 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Trans-Canada Limited - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1925

Canada - Scenic Dome Route - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1955 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada - Scenic Dome Route - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1955

Ski - Travel by Train (Voyagez Par Train) - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1950's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Ski - Travel by Train (Voyagez Par Train) - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1950's

Visit Canada - Grizzly Bear - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1938 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Visit Canada - Grizzly Bear - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1938

Visit Canada - Bull Moose - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Visit Canada - Bull Moose - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930's

Banff, Canada - Indian Days - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1926 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Banff, Canada - Indian Days - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1926

W. Langdon Kihn

Banff to Badger Pass Trail Ride - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1935 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Banff to Badger Pass Trail Ride - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1935

Mediterranean Cruise - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1924 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Mediterranean Cruise - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1924

George E. McElroy

Holidays In Canada - Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Holidays In Canada - Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1930

Kenneth Shoesmith

The Empress Hotel - Victoria, Canada - Play Golf - Canadian Pacific - c. 1938 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

The Empress Hotel - Victoria, Canada - Play Golf - Canadian Pacific - c. 1938

Ski Canada - Canadian Pacific - c. 1941 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Ski Canada - Canadian Pacific - c. 1941

Banff, Canada - Lake Louise - Ski the Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific - c. 1938 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Banff, Canada - Lake Louise - Ski the Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific - c. 1938

John Vickery

Canada Winter Sports (Sports d'Hiver) - Canadian Pacific - c. 1940 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada Winter Sports (Sports d'Hiver) - Canadian Pacific - c. 1940

Visit Canada - Skiing - Travel Canadian Pacific - c. 1955 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Visit Canada - Skiing - Travel Canadian Pacific - c. 1955

35 Happy Cruises - Canadian Pacific - c. 1935 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

35 Happy Cruises - Canadian Pacific - c. 1935

Fred W. Purvis

Canada's Maritimes - St. Andrews By the Sea - Canadian Pacific - c. 1950 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canada's Maritimes - St. Andrews By the Sea - Canadian Pacific - c. 1950

Duchess Steamships - Canadian Pacific - Neptune - c. 1929 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Duchess Steamships - Canadian Pacific - Neptune - c. 1929

Percy Angelo Staynes

Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1942 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1942

West Indies Cruises - Suntan - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1936 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

West Indies Cruises - Suntan - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1936

Route to Japan and China - Canadian Pacific - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Route to Japan and China - Canadian Pacific

Go Empress to the Orient - Honolulu, Japan, China - Canadian Pacific - c. 1934 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Go Empress to the Orient - Honolulu, Japan, China - Canadian Pacific - c. 1934

Maurice Logan

The Seas are Free Again - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1945 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

The Seas are Free Again - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1945

White Empress of the Pacific - To And From The Orient - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1930 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

White Empress of the Pacific - To And From The Orient - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1930

Chateau Lake Louise - Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1938 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Chateau Lake Louise - Canadian Rockies - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1938

A .C. Leighton

Digby Pines - Nova Scotia - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1940 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Digby Pines - Nova Scotia - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1940

Golf - Empress Hotel - Victoria, British Columbia - Canadian Pacific - c. 1939 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Golf - Empress Hotel - Victoria, British Columbia - Canadian Pacific - c. 1939

Château Frontenac - Québec, Canada - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1947 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Château Frontenac - Québec, Canada - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1947

The Royal York - Toronto, Ontario - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1946 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

The Royal York - Toronto, Ontario - Canadian Pacific Hotel - c. 1946

Cruise to the West Indies - The Empress of Britain - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1930's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Cruise to the West Indies - The Empress of Britain - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1930's

The Province of Québec - Trout Fishing - c. 1930 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

The Province of Québec - Trout Fishing - c. 1930

Travel by Railways Across Canada - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1947 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Travel by Railways Across Canada - Canadian Pacific Railway - c. 1947

Cruise the Great Lakes - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1940's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Cruise the Great Lakes - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1940's

Empress of Britain - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1920's - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Empress of Britain - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1920's

J. R. Tooby

Go Empress - To Canada and United States - Canadian Pacific - c. 1950 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Go Empress - To Canada and United States - Canadian Pacific - c. 1950

Trans-Canada Limited - Fastest Train Across The Continent - Canadian Pacific - c. 1924 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Trans-Canada Limited - Fastest Train Across The Continent - Canadian Pacific - c. 1924

G. Y. Kauffman

Newfoundland - Canada’s New Fun Land - c. 1949 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Newfoundland - Canada’s New Fun Land - c. 1949

Travel by Train - Canadian Pacific Railway Lines - c. 1940 - Fine Art Prints & Posters

Travel by Train - Canadian Pacific Railway Lines - c. 1940

Pacifica Island Art, Inc.

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COMMENTS

  1. Vintage Airline Travel Prints

    Check out our vintage airline travel prints selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our prints shops.

  2. These vintage photos show what air travel looked like between 1930s to

    Air shows sprang up around the country, with air races, acrobatic stunts, and feats of air superiority. The air races drove engine and airframe development—the Schneider Trophy, for example, led to a series of ever faster and sleeker monoplane designs culminating in the Supermarine S.6B.

  3. Vintage Airline Travel Posters

    Reprint of a Vintage Airline Travel Poster - Continental to Houston. (936) $20.00. $25.00 (20% off) FREE shipping. Airline Travel Posters on Magnets. Vintage, Flying Clippers, Pan American World Airways, Exotic Travel. Eight Different Choices.

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    Vintage Airline travel poster art from countries and airway companies around the world. An impressive quantity of skill and effort is involved in locating the original art, creating digital scans which are then carefully restored to their original beauty and brilliance. Finally they reproduced using the finest canvas or paper, inks and most ...

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    The story of commercial air travel begins before the 1920s, in 1914, when the world's first scheduled passenger service set off between Tampa and St Petersburg, piloted by Tony Jannus.

  6. A Guide to Collecting Vintage Airline Posters

    Vintage airline posters offer a unique and nostalgic glimpse into the history of air travel, capturing the excitement and glamour of the golden age of aviation. These posters showcase the beauty of graphic design and often feature stunning illustrations and typography. In this guide, we will explore the appeal of vintage airline posters, their ...

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    Are you looking for some retro travel inspiration or vintage aesthetic videos? Check out this video, where I take you on a tour of some vintage air travel fe...

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    Vintage air travel: Photos from golden age of flying. By Barry Neild, CNN. 2 minute read. Updated 11:10 AM EST, Fri December 28, 2018. Link Copied! Smooth ride: This publicity photo was used to ...

  9. Collector's Guide: Aviation & Airline Posters

    Imperial Airways operated between 1924 and 1939 and were responsible for some of the most memorable aviation posters, such as the poster from 1939 of a fleet of Short S-23C Empire Class Flying Boats led by the "Canopus.". Ultimately 31 of these aircraft went into service, each one's name beginning with the letter "C".

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    Choose your size — vintage airline posters. The vintage travel poster comes in 4 different sizes: A4 (297x1210mm) all the way to a grand A1 (841x610mm). A high-quality poster, it comes on 180gsm matte photo paper. 4. Sabena Airlines — Texas.

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    Offered is a vintage travel poster for United Airlines from the 1950s. This advertisement poster. Category 1950s North American Vintage Airline Posters. Materials. Paper. View Full Details "Colorado" Vintage United Airlines Travel Poster by Joseph Feher. H 19.25 in W 12.75 in D 0.75 in.

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  13. PropellerPropaganda

    Sizes, Prices and Condition Rating of vintage posters. "Propeller Propaganda" is the nickname I gave my original vintage airline poster collection. This website is dedicated to poster artists, printmakers and designers, who participated in creating traveling dreams. Click on the posters below and explore my collection!

  14. Amazon.com: Vintage Airline Travel Poster

    Fly to Hawaii by Clipper - Surfer, Diamond Head Crater - Pan American World Airways - Vintage Airline Travel Poster by Mark Von Arenburg c.1940s - 8in x 12in Vintage Metal Tin Sign. 4.6 out of 5 stars 54. $14.98 $ 14. 98. FREE delivery Wed, Sep 20 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon. Only 16 left in stock - order soon.

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    Glamour in the Skies: Vintage Air Travel Photos. By Stephanie Valera April 19, 2023. ... With the long lines, TSA pat-downs and luggage restrictions that come with air travel today, it may be hard ...

  16. Vintage Airline Travel Posters from Delta Airlines

    Washington, DC - Delta Air Lines - c. 1960's. Fred Sweney. 25 options available. $12.98 - $199.98. Vintage Airline Travel Posters from Delta Airlines | Classic Aviation Tourism Posters.

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    Boeing Super 727 Jet Airplane - United Airlines - Vintage Airline Travel Poster by C. Bail c.1969 - Master Art Print (Unframed) 9in x 12in. Paper. 4.2 out of 5 stars 8. $12.98 $ 12. 98. FREE delivery Nov 22 - 29 . Or fastest delivery Nov 20 - 24 . Options: 25 sizes. Small Business.

  18. Florida 1970s Vintage Airline Travel Poster

    Florida - 1970's Vintage Airline Travel Poster. Tyler Strohl Jun 11, 2022 Item quality 5.0. Shipping 5.0. 5 out of 5 stars. Listing review by awahrer. Great quality and fast shipping! Purchased item: Florida - 1970's Vintage Airline Travel Poster. awahrer Jan 26, 2022 ...

  19. Vintage Airline and Travel Posters Original and Air Line Travel Posters

    Vintage Original Airline and Travel Posters for Your Home or Office. Vintage, original, and amazing airline posters from the 1950s and 60s. And impossible to find. This is art from a different era, when flying was glamorous and only for the jet set. We have sourced vintage originals from flea markets, dealers and other secret spots.

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    Polar Route from Europe - Fly Canadian Pacific Airlines - Links 5 Continents - c. 1950's. Vintage Airline Travel Poster. 24 options available. $12.98 - $199.98. Vintage Airline Travel Posters from Canada | Classic Aviation Tourism Posters.

  22. Amazing airline food from the 1950s, 1960s & 1970s: In-flight meals you

    As air travel became more popular, airlines saw an opportunity to enhance the passenger experience and boost revenue with improved meal services. The 1960s and 1970s in particular marked a golden era for airplane food, with carriers competing to offer the most lavish meals, sourced from high-quality ingredients and prepared with the finesse of ...

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    Vintage Airline Travel Poster. 25 options available. $12.98 - $199.98. Cruise the Great Lakes - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1939. Norman Fraser. 25 options available. $12.98 - $199.98. Alaska - and the Yukon - Canadian Pacific Steamships - c. 1936. Vintage Travel Poster.