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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

Air travel in the 1930s was quite different from what it is today. At that time, commercial air travel was in its infancy and was primarily used by wealthy individuals and business travelers. The experiences, services, flight crews, and passengers were different from what we see today.

The aircraft of the 1930s were much smaller and less advanced than those of today. They were typically propeller-driven and had a limited range. The cabins were cramped and not as comfortable as modern airliners. There were no in-flight entertainment or food service, and the flight attendants, if any, were primarily there to assist with baggage.

Passengers on flights in the 1930s were mainly wealthy individuals, businessmen, and some celebrities. Traveling by air was considered a luxury and was more expensive than traveling by train or ship. Due to the limited number of flights and destinations, air travel was not yet a standard means of transportation for the general population.

The flight crews were also quite different from what we see today. Pilots were often veterans of World War I or barnstormers, and there were no formal training programs or certifications for pilots at that time. The flight crews were also much smaller, with only a pilot, sometimes a co-pilot, and a mechanic.

Despite the limitations of air travel in the 1930s, it was an exciting time for the industry as commercial air travel was still in its infancy, and many advances were being made. The first transcontinental flights were made, and the first airmail and air freight services were established.

#1 An airplane from British Imperial Airways, taken in the early 1930’s

An airplane from British Imperial Airways, taken in the early 1930's

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#2 This picture is from 1938, and famous chefs are shown loading cakes onto the airplane for the passengers

This picture is from 1938, and famous chefs are shown loading cakes onto the airplane for the passengers

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#3 The picture was taken in Pennsylvania in 1938, which would have been the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg

The picture was taken in Pennsylvania in 1938, which would have been the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#4 Passengers at the airport in Washington DC, 1938

Passengers at the airport in Washington DC, 1938

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#5 Taken at an airport in Israel, 1935

Taken at an airport in Israel, 1935

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#6 Waiter service aboard Imperial Airways ‘Scylla’ during its flight from London to Paris, 1935.

Waiter service aboard Imperial Airways ‘Scylla’ during its flight from London to Paris, 1935.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#7 Passengers enjoying a drink and a game of cards in the cabin of an Imperial Airways plane in 1936.

Passengers enjoying a drink and a game of cards in the cabin of an Imperial Airways plane in 1936.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#8 Preparing lunch on the Imperial Airways airplane ‘Scylla’, 19 November 1936.

Preparing lunch on the Imperial Airways airplane ‘Scylla’, 19 November 1936.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#9 Day cabin of an Imperial Airways flying boat, most likely of the Short Empire class, in August 1936.

Day cabin of an Imperial Airways flying boat, most likely of the Short Empire class, in August 1936.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#10 A sleeping berth on an Imperial Airways aircraft in March 1937.

A sleeping berth on an Imperial Airways aircraft in March 1937.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#11 First projection on board, 1938

First projection on board, 1938

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#12 Cabin of a De Havilland DH86B biplane, 1934.

Cabin of a De Havilland DH86B biplane, 1934.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#13 Germany: Passengers in an airplane, 1935.

Germany: Passengers in an airplane, 1935.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#14 Aeronautics testing a four-engined aircraft, 1934.

Aeronautics testing a four-engined aircraft, 1934.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#15 Interior of a Farman tourist airplane during a demonstration, 29th November 1932

Interior of a Farman tourist airplane during a demonstration, 29th November 1932

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#16 Passengers settling down for their journey on an Air France plane

Passengers settling down for their journey on an Air France plane

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#17 American Airline passengers make the first stratosphere flight test. The picture shows passengers breathing through their special masks during the flight.

American Airline passengers make the first stratosphere flight test. The picture shows passengers breathing through their special masks during the flight.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#18 Passengers sitting in their seats inside the cabin of a 21-passenger airplane making daily trips between New York City and Chicago. Several women read magazines.

Passengers sitting in their seats inside the cabin of a 21-passenger airplane making daily trips between New York City and Chicago. Several women read magazines.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#19 A customer reclines in the cabin of a Transcontinental & Western Air Douglas DC-1 Airplane.

A customer reclines in the cabin of a Transcontinental & Western Air Douglas DC-1 Airplane.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#20 Wireless communications make it possible for passengers aboard an Imperial Airways plane to hear the derby results via headphones.

Wireless communications make it possible for passengers aboard an Imperial Airways plane to hear the derby results via headphones.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#21 The First Ever In-Flight Movie, San Francisco, 1930s.

The First Ever In-Flight Movie, San Francisco, 1930s.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#22 Interior of the commercial aircraft of the future in a cinema studio in hollywood on february 1936

Interior of the commercial aircraft of the future in a cinema studio in hollywood on february 1936

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#23 imperial airways monoplane demonstration at Croydon in London on October 11st 1938

imperial airways monoplane demonstration at Croydon in London on October 11st 1938

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#24 Miss Helen Rickey, first woman to be employed as a pilot of an airline has resigned her position. Photo of Miss Rickey in the pilot’s seat of her plane leaving the Washington Airport.

Miss Helen Rickey, first woman to be employed as a pilot of an airline has resigned her position. Photo of Miss Rickey in the pilot's seat of her plane leaving the Washington Airport.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#25 Passengers listening to a radio on board an airplane.

Passengers listening to a radio on board an airplane.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#26 Aeroplane passengers with headphones listening to the first test broadcast of a new service which will enable them to hear and watch the boat race from the air.

Aeroplane passengers with headphones listening to the first test broadcast of a new service which will enable them to hear and watch the boat race from the air.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#27 The Duke and Duchess of York alight from an Imperial Airways liner, on their arrival in England from Brussels, 1935

The Duke and Duchess of York alight from an Imperial Airways liner, on their arrival in England from Brussels, 1935

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#28 An Eastern Air Transport flight attendant serves tea to passengers, 1931

An Eastern Air Transport flight attendant serves tea to passengers, 1931

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#29 Nazi leader Adolf Hitler takes a flight in an aircraft on his 43rd birthday, 1932

Nazi leader Adolf Hitler takes a flight in an aircraft on his 43rd birthday, 1932

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#30 Mrs. F.D.Roosevelt On Plane, 22nd January 1933.

Mrs. F.D.Roosevelt On Plane, 22nd January 1933.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#31 Interior Of A DC-3 Plane, 5th October 1938.

Interior Of A DC-3 Plane, 5th October 1938.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#32 Flight Attendant Serving Passenger a Meal

Flight Attendant Serving Passenger a Meal

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#33 Women aboard an airplane between Paris and London, 1934

Women aboard an airplane between Paris and London, 1934

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#34 Passengers on a flight from New York to Miami are entertained with a fashion show featuring the latest beachwear in the air, 1930.

Passengers on a flight from New York to Miami are entertained with a fashion show featuring the latest beachwear in the air, 1930.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#35 Children welcome Santa Claus as he disembarks his plane in a photograph from around 1930.

Children welcome Santa Claus as he disembarks his plane in a photograph from around 1930.

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#36 Inside Douglas Passenger Plane, October 5, 1938

Inside Douglas Passenger Plane, October 5, 1938

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#37 Passengers on an Imperial Airways flight enjoy a drink and a game of cards in the cabin in 1936.

Passengers on an Imperial Airways flight enjoy a drink and a game of cards in the cabin in 1936.

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#38 A waiter serves passengers aboard the Imperial Airways ‘Scylla’ flight from London to Paris.

A waiter serves passengers aboard the Imperial Airways 'Scylla' flight from London to Paris.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#39 Miss Wanda Wood, hostess for Eastern Air Transport, serves tea for two, Misses Charlotte Childress and Elizabeth Hume, aboard one of the line’s passenger planes 1930.

Miss Wanda Wood, hostess for Eastern Air Transport, serves tea for two, Misses Charlotte Childress and Elizabeth Hume, aboard one of the line's passenger planes 1930.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#40 Two male passengers play chess on a Pan American Clipper seaplane flying between San Francisco and Hong Kong, Hawaii, and Manila.

Two male passengers play chess on a Pan American Clipper seaplane flying between San Francisco and Hong Kong, Hawaii, and Manila.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#41 Miss Trehawke-Davies in the passenger’s seat of one of her Bleriot monoplanes, 1913

Miss Trehawke-Davies in the passenger's seat of one of her Bleriot monoplanes, 1913

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#42 A couple enjoys cocktails in the smoking lounge of the new Imperial Airways Empire flying boat passenger plane in London, 1930

A couple enjoys cocktails in the smoking lounge of the new Imperial Airways Empire flying boat passenger plane in London, 1930

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#43 Passengers board an aircraft at Croydon Airport in London, bound for the Grand National horse race in Liverpool.

Passengers board an aircraft at Croydon Airport in London, bound for the Grand National horse race in Liverpool.

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#44 Airliner Dornier Do X is shown with an interior view of the passenger saloon in a vintage photograph from ullstein bild.

Airliner Dornier Do X is shown with an interior view of the passenger saloon in a vintage photograph from ullstein bild.

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#45 Passengers board an American Airlines Condor biplane airplane for commercial flight from Newark, New Jersey, 1930s

Passengers board an American Airlines Condor biplane airplane for commercial flight from Newark, New Jersey, 1930s

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#46 Passengers of a plane from Mexico to Los Angeles, 1930

Passengers of a plane from Mexico to Los Angeles, 1930

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The Beginnings of Modern Air Travel: A Look at the 1930s

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#47 Passengers are seen on board a de Havilland Flamingo aeroplane, 1939

Passengers are seen on board a de Havilland Flamingo aeroplane, 1939

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#48 Passengers inside an aircraft, 1930

Passengers inside an aircraft, 1930

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Written by Aurora Hale

I am a blogger, entrepreneur and small business coach. I'm an introvert and cat lover. My favourite hobbies are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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