The UK’s leading networking association for foreign airline executives.
Founded in 1946, the FAA is the world’s oldest association of its kind.
Apparently, the very first flight to take off from Heathrow was a converted Lancaster bomber called Star Light that flew to Buenos Aires. It was in that same year that the Foreign Airlines Association (FAA) was formed. As the UK's leading networking association for foreign airline executives, the FAA celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021.
Interior of the Star Light
This converted Lancaster Bomber flew the first international all-jet passenger flight from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires in 1946. Could this be the very first ‘Shabby Chic’ interior?
in the beginning…
At the time of the formation of the FAA, World War II had recently ended and London Heathrow was a large field, bleak and muddy, with an eclectic collection of temporary buildings and wet tents accessed by duck boards. The depressing conditions were accentuated by the winter of 1946; one of the most bitterly cold of all times.
our LUNCHES soon became very popular…
Different airline members presided at each of the then monthly lunches and were responsible for the menu selected. This inevitably led to healthy competition, with members trying to outdo each other by importing various national specialties seen only rarely (or not at all) in the UK. American Overseas Airlines (predecessor of Pan Am) flew in steaks, as did Aerolineas Argentinas. United donated fresh pineapples to promote their Hawaiian routes, whilst Air India brought along a large variety of assorted Indian cuisines. The FAA offered the best meal in town… and only to its privileged members.
Food rations? Not if you lunched at the FAA
Britain was experiencing austerity and food rationing. The prospect of FAA lunches in a restaurant or hotel was the initial reason, one cynic remarked, for the FAA’s instant popularity and rapid growth; it helped eke out frugal rations.
and so it continues…
The very first venue for lunch and meetings was The Goring Hotel in Ebury Street. Since then, more recent venues have included The Prince of Wales Dining Room at Quaglinos, The Terrace at The Mayfair Hotel, Canvas at Harvey Nichols, The Gallery Room at Bluebird, The Library at The Churchill Hotel and The White Room at The Metropolitan Hotel. We’ll raise a glass to that!
Quaglino’s in 2019…
It took place at The Prince of Wales Dining Room. No sign of rationing, the wine and food flowed!