A century of Paris-London flights

The first commercial flight between Paris and London was made 100 years ago this month.

On February 8, 1919, 12 passengers took off from the Aérodrome de Toussus-le-Noble, just to the west of the French capital, paying 15 francs for the luxury of travelling in a converted bomber decked out in wicker chairs, Franceinfo recounts.

Today, the air corridor between the two capitals is the busiest in Europe.

The flight, in which the pilot and co-pilot sat in a cockpit that was partially open to the air, took more than two-and-a-half-hours at a flying speed of about 70mph. Navigation was by compass.

Following the opening of the Paris-London route, other destinations quickly followed, including Paris-Brussels. Le Bourget Airport, Paris's first commercial airport, opened in the same year.