India, November 11, 2024: 100 India-based British Airways colleagues, with more than 800 years of combined service to the airline, came together to create an uplifting video celebrating the airline’s centenary. This month marks 100 years since British Airways first started flying between London and Delhi, and colleagues marked the occasion by joining forces to create a giant ‘100’ formation. 
Showcasing a heartwarming sense of community and capturing the family-like spirit of the airline, the short film shows colleagues joyously walking onto a lawn together in careful order, revealing the number 100. The airline’s colleagues are seen joining hands to complete the formation and waving to the camera above in celebration.

British Airways has more than 2,500 colleagues based in India including cabin crew, airport colleagues, engineers and those who work in the airline’s CallBA customer care centres. Colleagues that feature in the video included Renu Arya, who has worked as cabin crew for the airline for more than 35 years, as well as Aparna Malhotra, who has worked for British Airways for more than 30 years and currently manages the airline’s day to day operation across the five cities that it operates from.

Link to the video

“This video perfectly captures what it means to be a British Airways colleague – it’s about celebrating each and every individual’s originality, coming together to create something truly special. Our people are our greatest asset, and we are so proud to have more than 2,500 colleagues based in India – making it our largest colleague base outside of the UK.
“Reaching this centenary has been a proud moment for British Airways. Not only does it reflect our long-standing commitment to this vibrant country but also celebrates the deep cultural connections we have built over the years.”

Lisa Tremble, British Airways’ Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer,

“I’ve had the privilege of working for British Airways since July 1994, and over these 30 years, I’ve come to view British Airways as more than just a workplace – it’s a family, a place where you feel valued, supported, and truly at home. The people I work with are the heart of this company, and the bonds we share as part of the British Airways family are something we all cherish. I have loved taking part in our celebrations to mark 100 years of flying to India, it has been a highlight of my career.“

Nilufer Charna, Global Cabin Crew manager

Elsewhere, British Airways colleagues have been celebrating the centenary in other ways. Yesterday’s flights (November 10) between Delhi and London operated with a cabin crew made up entirely of Indian-origin colleagues for the first time, while new voiceovers recorded by Indian colleagues can be heard making announcements both at Indian airports and at London Heathrow.

Customers travelling throughout November can also celebrate by tucking into specially curated centenary menus featuring ‘Masala Chai’ and the addition of over 100 new Indian inflight entertainment options.

British Airways also recently unveiled its latest TV advert and brand campaign created specifically for the Indian market, its first in more than eight years. Aptly names ‘Family in the Skies’, the campaign is currently running across all cities that the airline operates to – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore – showcasing more than 100 India-based colleagues as the stars.

About British Airways:

As a global airline and the UK’s flag carrier, British Airways has been flying its customers to where they need to be for more than 100 years. The airline connects Britain with the world and the world with Britain, operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks together with its joint business, codeshare and franchise partners. British Airways flies to destinations in more than 65 countries. Its principal place of business is London, with its main home at Heathrow Terminal 5.

In September 2021, British Airways launched its sustainability programme, BA Better World, committing to put sustainability at the heart of everything it does and with a clear roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

British Airways is a founding member of the airline alliance oneworld, which serves around 1,000 destinations across the globe. Visit www.ba.com to book.

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