Long before aircraft crisscrossed the North Atlantic, the only way to travel between Europe and North America was via the luxurious ocean liners operated by some of the world’s shipping giants.
One such company was Cunard, founded by Samuel Cunard in 1840. Since its inception it had grown to become the dominant force in transatlantic travel, linking the two major industrial centres of the world. However, the arrival of passenger air transportation quickly became a thorn in its side.
Its first aviation challenger came in the form of airships that began regular services between Germany and New York in October 1928. Following the high-profile losses of R101, the USS Akron and the LZ 129 Hindenburg, airships were soon replaced by seaplanes such as the Short S.23 Empire flying boat, introduced by Imperial Airways and Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) in 1937. Onboard passengers were offered a first-class service with meals prepared by chefs from top hotels served by stewards in pristine white uniforms. There were dressing rooms for passengers and bunks for catching 40 winks during the 20-hour crossing.
Sir Percy Bates, Cunard’s then chairman, had been aware of the threat of aviation for some time. Early …
