War Office
British Empire Air Routes, 1937
27 ½ x 37 ½ in
70 x 95 cm
70 x 95 cm
WLD4773
Map of the Empire Air Mail Scheme and other Commonwealth Air Routes in the Eastern Hemisphere A fascinating map of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, showing the routes of...
Map of the Empire Air Mail Scheme and other Commonwealth Air Routes in the Eastern Hemisphere
A fascinating map of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, showing the routes of Imperial Airways and its affiliates across the British Empire, including Qantas and British Airways.
This map contains little geographical information with the exception of outlining and naming the continents. It then uses this blank canvas to illustrate the burgeoning introduction of air travel logistics, in this case, mail routes. The emphasis is on the routes of Imperial Airways, but it also includes connections with their numerous affiliates throughout the Empire, including Qantas, Indian trans-Continental Airways, Wilson Airways, and an early incarnation of British Airways. These routes are marked in red. The routes of non-affiliated airlines are marked in black, though on occasion an asterisk is used to note that Imperial either has a financial interest in that route or that Imperial's staff are employed to work that route.
The map also portrays potential future routes within this theatre and even more interestingly, early locations for airports, both existing and projected. A key on the lower centre shows the location of both the airports as well as the operators of the routes shown. In the lower-left and upper-right corners are two tables explaining how much time can be saved by traveling via air compared to other methods of transport. A journey by air to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for example, could save the traveller 11 - 23 days.
Of particular note is the date of 1937, just two years before the outbreak of World War II which accelerated the development of many of these projects but also changed the airlines beyond recognition with Imperial Airways, Wilson Airways and British Airways all ceasing to exist in that form by 1939.
Printed colour. [WLD4773]
A fascinating map of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, showing the routes of Imperial Airways and its affiliates across the British Empire, including Qantas and British Airways.
This map contains little geographical information with the exception of outlining and naming the continents. It then uses this blank canvas to illustrate the burgeoning introduction of air travel logistics, in this case, mail routes. The emphasis is on the routes of Imperial Airways, but it also includes connections with their numerous affiliates throughout the Empire, including Qantas, Indian trans-Continental Airways, Wilson Airways, and an early incarnation of British Airways. These routes are marked in red. The routes of non-affiliated airlines are marked in black, though on occasion an asterisk is used to note that Imperial either has a financial interest in that route or that Imperial's staff are employed to work that route.
The map also portrays potential future routes within this theatre and even more interestingly, early locations for airports, both existing and projected. A key on the lower centre shows the location of both the airports as well as the operators of the routes shown. In the lower-left and upper-right corners are two tables explaining how much time can be saved by traveling via air compared to other methods of transport. A journey by air to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for example, could save the traveller 11 - 23 days.
Of particular note is the date of 1937, just two years before the outbreak of World War II which accelerated the development of many of these projects but also changed the airlines beyond recognition with Imperial Airways, Wilson Airways and British Airways all ceasing to exist in that form by 1939.
Printed colour. [WLD4773]
