High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! British Airways (BA) is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom. It is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations. British Airways was considered the largest UK airline by passenger numbers from its creation in 1974 until 2008, when it was displaced by low-cost rival EasyJet. Since its inception, British Airways has been centred at its main hub at London Heathrow Airport, with a second major hub at London Gatwick Airport.