Relationship


Barbados and British Airways have shared some memorable moments in their 70-year history


I Cheryl Carter


Chief Operations Officer, Barbados Tourism Marketing


Q What activities were held in celebration of


the 70th anniversary? A During the month


of April, we served the


island’s Mount Gay rum on all British Airways


Concorde whisked


passengers to Barbados in less than four hours


1954


The first ever British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) flight lands on the island. The weekly service from Heathrow to Barbados takes just under 18 hours and has to stop three times to refuel. Six months later, the route is improved with a single stop in Bermuda.


1961


The island’s first five-star hotel, Sandy Lane in Saint James, opens. The hotel, built on a former sugar plantation, was conceived


4 GUIDE TO BARBADOS


by former British MP Ronald Tree. It quickly becomes the place to be seen for the likes of Maria Callas, David Niven and Elton John.


1967 A disposable paper dress for Caribbean routes becomes a short-lived feature in the history of BOAC’s cabin crew uniforms. Over the decades, subsequent British Airways outfits have featured designs by Sir Edwin Hardy Amies, Julien Macdonald and Ozwald Boateng.


1974


British Airways is created out of a merger of British European Airways (BEA), BOAC and several smaller airlines. It quickly becomes seen around the globe as the standard bearer for cool, sophisticated Britain.


1976


British Airways’ ‘Queen of the skies’, the Boeing 747, begins a non-stop weekly service between Heathrow and Barbados. The frequency doubles to twice-weekly before the year is out.


flights. We also featured promotions where Club passengers could win a trip to Barbados, as


well as hosting groups of travel agents to celebrate with us.


Q What’s new in


Barbados that agents should be aware of?


A Lots of new restaurants and bars


have opened. We offer everything from street food to fine dining, and we see ourselves as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. The Food & Rum Festival takes


place annually but our culinary offerings are year-round!


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