British Airways has created a limited-edition range of luggage with the Globe-Trotter brand inspired by the airline’s BOAC livery. The new BOAC Speedbird suitcases have been handmade in England and incorporate the iconic ‘Gold Speedbird’ insignia and “a fragment from a retired British Airways B747 aircraft”.
The suitcases are made from high gloss vulcanised fibreboard with “a metallic sheen for a pearlescent white shimmer, which is complemented by Navy leather trim on the corners and handles.” The hand-painted ‘Gold Speedbird’ insignia adorns the exterior, while the 747 fragment decorates the interior.
The range is limited to just 150 suitcases which will be available to order online from today and in Globe-Trotter’s flagship stores. Prices start from £1,935.
To launch the range, two of the suitcases are being auctioned via online auction platform ‘bid in’ to raise funds for Flying Start, British Airways’ global charity partnership with Comic Relief. Bids start from £2,000 per item. Bids will close at midnight on Tuesday, 19 January.
The two suitcases being auctioned were onboard British Airways’ final 747 flight on December 11, 2020, which saw the airline’s heritage-liveried BOAC jumbo jet fly the short distance from British Airways’ engineering base at Cardiff Airport to its new permanent home in St Athan, South Wales. They have also been signed by the flight’s Captain, Richard Allen-Williams, British Airways’ Chief Training Pilot.
Hamish McVey, British Airways’ Head of Brands & Marketing, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Globe-Trotter to create this very special product, and through this unique auction raise money for vital Comic Relief projects across the UK and overseas.
“While it was the right time to bid farewell to our Queen of the Skies, the launch of these BOAC-inspired carry-on suitcases provides a perfect opportunity for someone to celebrate a bygone era of global air travel and own a piece of our history.”
British Airways and Globe-Trotter have a history of working together. During the 1960s, Globe-Trotter was used by BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) crew, who treasured them for their strength and durability. Former BOAC cabin crew member Hilary Farish inspired a popular Globe-Trotter luggage collection with a suitcase which was covered in stickers and marks from her extensive travels.
Vicente Castellano, Executive Chairman, Globe-Trotter, said: “We at Globe-Trotter could not be happier to collaborate with British Airways and support their important Flying Start programme.
“The commemorative BOAC case that we have created together, is the perfect celebration of travel and style – two values that have inspired the past and indeed the future of Globe-Trotter.”
British Airways has worked with Comic Relief since June 2010. Its global charity partnership, Flying Start, focuses on helping disadvantaged young people have a better start in life. Since the partnership launched, Flying Start has raised more than £25 million through onboard donations, sponsored events and challenges and has helped more than 824,000 children and young people in the UK and across the world’s poorest communities.
In the last year, this includes supporting over 5,300 women and infants through community healthcare in South Africa to help prevent the transmission of HIV from expectant mothers to their babies, supporting the set-up of new community-based health and education services in Ghana and helping UK based organisations support families with young children, to help them reach their developmental potential up to their successful transition to primary school.
For more information visit ba-flyingstart.com
