[London – June 2026] Air bp is proud to celebrate 100 years serving the global aviation industry. Since its creation in 1926, when aircraft were still made of wood and canvas, Air bp has remained central to the industry’s most important milestones.
The scale of change is significant – from 2,582 gallons supplied in its second year of operations to the approximately 6.6 billion gallons used annually today. Air bp is now present at 600 airports across 40 countries.
From pioneering mobile refuelling units to the first commercial test flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)*, Air bp’s history tracks the remarkable trajectory of flight. Today, as aviation faces new challenges, Air bp is using its technical expertise and leveraging its global network to support the shift to a lower-carbon future**.
Federica Berra, CEO of Air bp: “Air bp has helped shape the way the world flies, from pioneering into-plane fuelling in 1926, to supporting the aviation industry through every major transformation since.”
Air bp has contributed to the evolution of refuelling practices through a series of technical and operational advancements, including early mobile refuelling services and support for notable long‑distance flights in the 1930s. Air bp also helped develop industry-wide safety standards that continue to support safe and reliable operations today. More recently, Air bp supplied fuel for the first 100% SAF transatlantic commercial flight.
Berra added: “As we enter our second century, our focus remains the same: delivering the reliability, safety and lower carbon solutions our customers and the industry needs for its next chapter.”
[ https://www.bp.com/en/global/air-bp/fuelling-100-years-of-aviation.html]
Ends
*SAF can typically enable up to 80% lifecycle carbon emission savings compared to the fossil fuel derived jet it replaces, however SAF does not reduce emissions during combustion. Emissions at the aircraft wingtip are essentially the same as those from fossil based jet fuel.
**bp mostly produces, trades and sells oil and gas, alongside transition activities such as EV charging, bioenergy and renewables that are a much smaller but key part of our business
1920s
1927 – Neville Stack’s Moth being refuelled with BP at the Hinaidi Aerodrome, Baghdad, in the course of the 6000-mile flight from England to Karachi.
1930s
1930 – Air bp fuels Miss Winifred Brown winner of the Kings Cup Air Race, seated in the cockpit of her plane after the finish.
1933 – Air bp begins supplying fuel in Sharjah, establishing a critical aviation refuelling point on early long‑haul routes and helping enable a vital air link between the UK and India.
1940s
1949 – Air bp introduced underwing fuelling, which removed the necessity for personnel to climb on top of the wings to fill up the fuel tanks and enabled much faster refuelling.
1950s
1956 – Air bp refuels TEAL DC6 at 1956 Melbourne Olympics
1960s
1960s – Air bp provides high density fuel during the development of the Concorde.
1970s
In 1972, Air bp introduced Super Jet Dispensers and Jumbo Refuellers engineered ahead of the wide‑body era to enable immediate global support for Boeing 747 operations, aircraft capable of consuming around 70,500 US gallons of fuel on a single intercontinental flight.
Image – 1972 Air bp refuelling wide body 747 British Airways aircraft at Heathrow Airport.
1980s
1983 – NASA Boeing 747 carrying the prototype space shuttle Enterprise is fuelled by Air bp.
1990s
1993 – Air bp introduces fuel card programmes for general aviation customers as a means of accessing aviation fuel on an as needed basis.
2000s
2002 – Air bp launches the world’s first all-electric refueller in Long Beach California marking an early step in reducing emissions from ground operations and supporting more sustainable airport environments.
2010s
On 24 March 2018, Air bp fuelled Qantas’ first non-stop flight between Perth airport and London Heathrow.
2020s
2020 – Air bp donates 35,000 N95 masks to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) for their frontline staff. Image – 2017 of Air bp refuelling Royal Flying Doctor Service.
2023 – Air bp supplies sustainable aviation fuel for the world’s first transatlantic flight powered by 100% SAF by a commercial airline.
Hi-res images available on request
Photo credit: bp plc
Further Information
Contacts
bp press office, London: bppress@bp.com
Issued by Emerald Media: communications@emeraldmedia.co.uk
Air bp’s historical timeline: https://www.bp.com/en/global/air-bp/who-we-are/our-history.html
About Air bp
As the aviation division of bp, Air bp is one of the world’s leading suppliers of aviation fuel products and services. It has been investing in the aviation industry for almost 100 years to keep people flying safely around the world. Air bp serves over 600 locations across 40 countries and fuels over 6,800 flights per day – that’s more than one flight every 15 seconds. Air bp’s customers include commercial airlines, the military, business and private aircraft owners, airports and airfield operators. Aviation experts support bp’s purpose to deliver energy for today and tomorrow. Air bp has a wide range of services to support its fuel offer including the design, build and operation of fueling facilities, technical consultancy and training, solutions to potentially help customers with direct and indirect carbon emissions savings, the Sterling card for efficient general aviation refuelling and innovative digital platforms to increase efficiency and reduce risk.
