8
$\begingroup$

Out of curiosity, what flight, currently still operating, has the earliest inception?

There are several ways to define this, and I expect available information will determine what definition is most useful. As an example, if a flight's inception date is the earliest date such that there has been a commercial flight on every day (or every week) between that date and today, what flight has the earliest inception date?

Also interested in a flight using the same aerodromes, or with the same airline, or even aircraft type.

$\endgroup$
8
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ It is probably a KLM flight, as KLM is the oldest airline in operation, having been established in 1919 and starting scheduled services in 1921. The hard part is the every day/week part, flights are very seasonal and may skip weeks in slow seasons to certain destinations. $\endgroup$
    – Ron Beyer
    Dec 23, 2016 at 5:39
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ I'm guessing the Second World War would have broken the services though. $\endgroup$
    – Hugh
    Dec 23, 2016 at 5:41
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ In addition of the drastic constraints of the question, after the 2010 volcanic eruption all flights in a part of Europe have been broken, and in the US it has been the same after 9/11. The answer will have little significance. $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Dec 23, 2016 at 6:02
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Related: Oldest airline with the oldest air route - jetphotos.net $\endgroup$
    – Ron Beyer
    Dec 23, 2016 at 6:13
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ "there has been a commercial flight on every day (or every week) between that date and today": How can you know that a scheduled flight was never disrupted one day by a strike, by weather, by a diversion, etc? So how can one even be sure their answer is valid? $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Dec 23, 2016 at 8:08

1 Answer 1

6
$\begingroup$

According to the Georgia Encyclopedia one of the oldest flights operated by Delta was Love Field, Dallas to Birmingham, Alabama from 1929 up to 2000. Birmingham ist still served by Delta, but not from Love Field.

According to this the first flight from London to Schiphol was in May 1920. This route ist still in operation by KLM. But London at the time meant Croydon Airport.

On 27 May 1936 Aer Lingus made its first flight from Dublin to Bristol, while the route is also still in operation, the airfields changed. (wikipedia)

Take your pick.

$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .