Come Fly with Me: The Golden Age of Aviation

In the late 1940s, thanks to technological advancements, pioneering spirit, and a touch of luxury, air travel transformed our world.

The success story began in the 1920s with efforts to make the sky accessible to paying passengers. The first airlines consisted of daredevils in flying machines, but they quickly realized that passengers desired comfort, not thrills. Soon, enclosed airplanes with cabins replaced open biplanes. After the Second World War, iconic aircraft like Lockheed's Super Constellation and Boeing's 707 became game changers. Travel had never been so fast, safe, or luxurious. Airlines competed to transport their passengers from one continent to another in the most comfortable manner. Airplanes became platforms for style, elegance, and opulence. The elite – successful businessmen, royals, statesmen, and show business stars – became the jet set. The notion of being pampered 10,000 meters above the ground with gourmet menus, lounges, and extravagant service stirred the longings of an entire generation and continues to resonate today. The French-British Concorde project represents the pinnacle of this era. Traveling from Paris to New York in three and a half hours, with caviar and champagne, offered a form of travel that remains unmatched.