The Development of Passenger Airliners and the Competition in Commercial Aviation in the Twentieth Century

Abstract

Although the development of flying airplanes began in the early twentieth century after the Wright Brothers' first flight in 1903, it was not until after the end of the First World War that commercial planes were in service. In 1919, Britain became the first nation to operate passenger airplanes. After that other nations, including the US, followed suit. Though American commercial aviation began quite late when compared with that of Britain, progressive development of passenger airplanes was witnessed, in the US especially in the 1930's. This paved the way for the US to become the leading nation in aviation since the end of the Second World War. This article studied the development of passenger airlines from the First World War, focusing on commercial aviation in the US and Europe - especially in Britain. It also emphasizes the relationship between the two World Wars and passenger airlines and commercial aviation, including the competition in the aviation market between American and European manufacturers and how this resulted in the formation of an airplane manufacturer in Europe to compete with the US.