For other uses of BEA see Bea

British European Airways, or BEA, was formed in 1946 by an Act of Parliament. The airline operated European and North African routes from a variety of airports around the United Kingdom. BEA was also the largest domestic airline within the United Kingdom at the time, operating flights to major British cities, including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast and Glasgow.

The airline was also the first customer for many British short- and medium-haul airliners of the 1950s and 1960s, including the Vickers Viscount, Vickers Vanguard, BAC One-Eleven 500 and Hawker-Siddeley Trident.

In 1969 BEA formed a charter subsidiary BEA Airtours to provide inclusive tour holiday charters.

BEA ceased operations in 1974 when it was merged with the British Overseas Airways Corporation to form British Airways.

Defunct airlines of the United Kingdom | Airlines of the United Kingdom | Former nationalised industries of the United Kingdom

British European Airways | British European Airways | British European Airways