Changes in travel and leisure in the 20th century Flashcards

1
Q

Why did sports develop mass spectator audiences?

A
  • During 20s and 30s you could see major events like horse races for free
  • Large free areas at Epsom, Aintree and Derby race courses attracted crowds of ~200k-500k
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2
Q

How popular was professional football in the 20s and 30s?

A

Average of 22 million people a year attended pro football. Statistics suggest a similar-sized auidence for amateur football as well.

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3
Q

What happened to football, rugby and cricket clubs in the most deprived parts of the country during the Great Depression?

A

Many found declining ticket sales and cheaper tickets made it hard to survive financially eg nearly all rugby leagues closed outside Yorkshire and Lancashire due to low attendance. Matches that had 50k+ spectators held after worst of crisis passed.

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4
Q

What was the next largest spectator sport after football during the interwar period?

A

Greyhound racing.

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5
Q

What was the largest greyhound track in the country?

A
  • June 1927: White Stadium, one of largest athletics arenas in UK became biggest greyhound track in the country.
  • In 1933 Walthamstow Stadium opened. On busy race nights up to 100k would attend to bet on their fave dogs.
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6
Q

What does the development of major arenas for sporting events suggest?

A

Spectator sport as a means of leisure had become central to many people’s way of life.

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7
Q

In the interwar period, what sports flourished?

A

Tennis, show jumping, and golf all attracted large, mainly middle class audiences, with 50k people paying to see the Ryder Cup (golf tournament.

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8
Q

What effect did mass sporting events have on quality of life?

A

Added to spectators’ quality of life by providing affordable entertainment. However, in most cases, the audience was almost exclusively male, so these sports had little impact on women.

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9
Q

When did broadcasting of sports begin?

A

By 1936 the BBC had begun to broadcast live from footie matches.

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10
Q

How did the Football Association (FA) feel about BBC broadcasting live from football matches?

A

Concerned them as they believed ppl’d only listen from home and not attend matches

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11
Q

How did radio broadcasts boost football?

A
  • Radio broadcasts help strengthen + increase mass participation in footie and enabled it to develop its audience, ensuring it transformed into a national spectator sport.
  • Created national spectator sport culture, meaning the amount of money sport could generate began to grow
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12
Q

What happened to sports stadia during WW2?

A

Initially closed- fear of mass deaths if bombed- but like cinemas later reopened for morale and demand.

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13
Q

Did professional teams play sports during WW2?

A

Normal league competitions halted as many pro sportsman joined war but military was able to form highly talented teams. Spectator sport oft took form of games between forces in aid of charity.

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14
Q

What types of matches were held during WW2?

A
  • May 1943: 55k attended footie march at Chelsea- raised £8k for naval welfare charities
  • Successful cricket matches staged between British Empire XI and the London Counties XI
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15
Q

Were any of the matches played during WW2 in danger?

A
  • One match at Lords in July 1944 of RAF v. Army temporarily delayed as a V1 bomb landed nearby
  • FA Services team played France and Belgium in their respective capitals in Sept 1944 shortly after their liberation winning 5-0 and 3-0.
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16
Q

Generally, was sport encouraged during WW2?

A

Military personnel and civilians encouraged to keep fit through organised sport and it was generally seem as important for boosting morale.

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17
Q

What was the country’s favourite sport in the late 1950s?

A

County cricket, but this football later dominated this in the 60s as cricket seemed to represent all that 60s pop culture rejected- perceived as a sport of upper and middle classes.

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18
Q

When was Cricket especially popular?

A

Big surge in popularity after 1945; by 1948 the Ashes test between England and Oz attracted as many spectators of London Olympics that year.

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19
Q

How had Cricket’s popularity changed by the 1960s?

A

Gradual decline, both in no. of spectators and no. of matches held.

  • 1955: 3,473 matches
  • 1965: 2,268 matches
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20
Q

Why had Cricket’s popularity declined by the 60s?

A
  • Popularity of football
  • Power of TV
  • Wider choice of leisure activities
  • Associated with Imperial past and class system, out of step with the Britain of the early 60s
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21
Q

In the 1960s and beyond, who were the most passionate cricket fans?

A

West Indian and Asian immigrants, esp when their nations were against England or the other major cricketing nations.

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22
Q

Example of how developments in technology increased British TV audiences’ access to international sporting events

A

Football World Cup and the Olympic and Commonwealth Games enabled viewers to support Brit teams and sportspeople competition worldwide. In the 1966 World Cup final, 32M watched England defeat W. Germany.

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23
Q

What was a direct benefit of the development of a national sporting culture?

A

Increased govt investments in sporting facilities in 60s and 70s. Govt developed Sports Council of GB in 1972 to help Brit athletes compete internationally and win so many Brits would tune in. Designed to promote sport both among athletes and public. Motto: ‘Sports for All’

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24
Q

When was the first official Paralympics held?

A

Rome, 1960. Similar events had previously only been open to war veterans, but were now open to any disabled athletes.

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25
Q

How many tickets were sold for Football League matches in 1948 compared to the late 60s?

A

1948: 41 Million tickets

Late 60s: 30 Million tickets

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26
Q

What were some causes for the decline in Football ticket sales?

A
  • Economic hardships of austerity
  • Football offered escape from austerity but as economy boomed in 60s and living standards grew it had to compete with other pastimes.
  • Growth of availability of sport on TV
  • Violent clashes between rival supporters alienated ppl
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27
Q

Before 1918, who were tourist facilities aimed at?

A

Few-working class ppl had been able to take holidays so they were mainly geared towards the wealthy eg expensive hotels in seaside and spa resorts, and leisure facilities such as golf courses.

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28
Q

What domestic holiday activities were popular for the wealthy?

A
  • Sailing was popular both off coast and in inland areas eg the Norfolk Broads
  • Many went to seaside resorts for health, brochures oft featured their health-giving qualities
  • Increasing popularity of resorts led more affluent tourists to find alternative venues
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29
Q

What abroad holiday activities were popular for the wealthy?

A

Few went abroad; those who did went to exclusive locations eg French Riviera or for tours in art galleries and museums in Italy and Greece. Went on into interwar years.

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30
Q

How did rich people know where to go on holiday?

A

Many followed guidebooks eg Baedeckers (est Germany)- focused on most dear hotels, art and cultural pursuits and gave advice on how much to tip staff.

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31
Q

How did the growth in the affordability of cars throughout the 1930 affect tourism?

A

Led to the development of tourism across Britain that wasn’t reliant on train travel to seaside resorts.

  • 1936: coaches transport 82M passengers to rural parts of Britain
  • By 1939: 2M cars on the roads
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32
Q

What were the more popular tourist destinations for caravanners, campers, and hikers?

A

Scotland, the Lake District, and north Wales- 72k ppl visited the Lake District in the 30s. Attraction of the Lake District grew w/publication of Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons novels 1932-1936.

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33
Q

How were cheap hiking holidays made easier?

A

By growth in the Youth Hostel Association- dormitory rooms and breakfast.

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34
Q

What did better education result in in terms of tourism?

A

More visits to places of cultural and historical significance, eg Stratford-upon-Avon for the annual Shakespeare festival and Hampton Court Palace. Holidays to seaside resorts stayed popular, their no. of boarding houses and holiday camps grew to accommodate growth in tourism

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35
Q

What was a cheaper accommodation option compared to hotels?

A

Seaside boarding house. 4,000 of these in Blackpool by 1920s and many families returned year after year to the same one. Many were run by single ‘spinsters’ or WW1 widows

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36
Q

Why did boarding houses become less popular in the 20th century?

A
  • Disposable incomes of holidaymakers increased
  • Guests not given own keys and had curfew
  • Many landladies had strict rules of behaviour; while many offered a ‘home away from home’, others were overbearing.
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37
Q

Who created the first holiday camps?

A

Businessman Billy Butlin imported idea from Canada, building the 1st one at Skegness in 1936, promising ‘a week’s holiday for a week’s wages’.

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38
Q

What did Butlin aim to offer at his holiday camps?

A

Cheap holidays in chalet accommodation with activities and entertainment whatever the weather and 3 meals a day- knew it would be popular. He was correct and his holiday camp empire grew for 30 years.

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39
Q

How successful were Butlin’s Clacton and Skegness camps?

A
  • In 1939 they had 100,000 visitors a year

- By 60s six more holiday camps had been built but numbers across his empire began to decline in early 70s

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40
Q

Why did the appeal of Butlin’s decline from the late 1960s?

A

The regimented nature of their time there. The holiday camp, w/its chalets, communal dining areas and loudspeaker system broadcasting updates on the day’s entertainment felt similar to an army camp to some.

41
Q
  1. How did rising living standards accelerate Butlin’s decline?
  2. How did competition accelerate Butlin’s decline?
A
  1. Holidaymakers began to demand more individual holiday experiences.
  2. Growth in foreign holidays
42
Q

How did Butlin’s change strategy in the late 1960s?

A

Recognised teens + young adults had more disposable income- marketed to them; disastrous results- tabloid stories of vandalism, drinking, teen sex, + antisocial behaviour damaged to their family-friendly reputation.

43
Q

What happened to attitudes towards customer service in Britain, particularly in the hotel and tourism industries, in the 1960s and 1970s?

A

Service became more personalised. Eg hotels offered wide choice of menus and developed leisure facilities like bars and gyms, which meant they almost became a resort in themselves.

44
Q

Why did customer service have to change in the 60s and 70s?

A

Increased spending power from customers, wider access to overseas travel, gr8r expectations meant standard approach that existed since 30s would no longer be tolerated.

45
Q

What was customer service like before the 60s?

A
  • Seaside resort hotels would lock front door at 9pm
  • Close bar early
  • Asks guests to leave in day
  • Provide abrupt or unhelpful service
46
Q

How did holiday camps improve their customer service?

A

Became more comfy with chalets being updated, more elaborate entertainment, incl top acts, and more health and leisure facilities.

47
Q

How important did holidays become in the 1950s?

A

Affordability- became a central feature of life for many fams, instead of rare luxury. Almost all businesses offered at least 14 days annual leave to workers by early 60s. For many working adults, it was opportunity to rest from strains of working life.

48
Q

Why was Spain and Portugal popular for British holidaymakers in the 60s?

A

Beachfronts transformed in 60s- high-rise holiday apartment blocks, hotels, bars, cinemas and restaurants were built. Combo of cheap accommodation, cheap flights and year-long hot weather were v. attractive.

49
Q

How were countries like Spain and Portugal in the Mediterranean able to fund future tourism investments?

A
  • Gradual increase in Brit holidays to Mediterranean in 60s helped finance these developments, encouraged tour operators to find similar overseas locations.
  • 4% of all Brit holidays in 1968 to 8% in 1971
50
Q

How did the government attempt to keep the value of the £ high during the 1960s that impacted holidaymakers?

A

Stopped ppl taking £50+/year out of nation. Limited holidaymaking scope + no. holidays ppl could take. Decision to allow ppl to take £25/trip- boom in holiday travel.

51
Q

In the early days of mass tourism what was the experience like?

A

Exciting, exotic for many but common experience was overcrowded planes, half-built hotels, and stomach upsets. Cautious ppl’d eat at places w/’British’ food, set up by ex-pat Brits or those who knew how to cater to Brits.

52
Q

As foreign holidays became more popular, how did British tastes change?

A

Became more adventurous. the rising living standards that enabled this also brought about changing tastes and attitudes to European countries.

53
Q

How did the expansion of leisure time and affluence affect family life?

A

Fam life in many working/middle class homes changed- men spent more time with their fams. Trad escapes from fam life eg working man’s club+pub declined in popularity as home ownership grew and TV became part of fam life.

54
Q

How did the expansion of leisure time and affluence affect hobbies?

A

eg Gardening and DIY grew in popularity largely as a result of home ownership; home owners became more interested in keeping their properties attractive to maximise their value.

55
Q

When did caravanning develop as a leisure activity?

A

1930s; in 1934 there were over 90 models of caravan available to buy. As living standards rose post-ww2 ownership of caravans grew as many fams who once visited Butlin’s instead adopted less communal holiday.

56
Q

Why was caravanning possible?

A

Growth in car ownership and in suburban living w/more homes having driveways. Esp appealed to those who wanted an independent holiday over a regimented, communal one.

57
Q

In the 60s, how popular were caravan holidays?

A
  • 20% of all holidays taken in 60s
  • 50%+ had taken part in a caravan holiday by 70s
  • Created large market for domestic tourism
58
Q

What developed to counteract mainstream ideas about travel in the 60s?

A

Rising living standards + better education led to development of alt ideas about travel in 70s. Young ppl who looked for more ‘authentic’ experience and rejected overt materialism of 60s.

59
Q

What was the ‘Hippy Trail’?

A

Route to Nepal+India. Actual nos. of ppl on this were exceedingly small compared to those who went to Majorca/Ibiza on holiday. Most went by car, van, train across Europe to India+Nepal, w/some going to Thailand.

60
Q

What countries were there along the Hippy Trail route?

A

Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. These were allied to Western countries and were largely safe places for adventurous Western tourists- before the late 70s.

61
Q

Who went on the Hippy Trail?

A

Most were in 20s, were attracted by availability of hashish +opium in Afghanistan+Nepal.

62
Q

What does the existence of the Hippy Trail demonstrate?

A

That as living standards changed, attitudes to leisure and travel were exceedingly diverse. Some young, uni-educated ppl had diff ideas + expectations of life and this was reflected in their choice of holiday destination

63
Q

How many people went on holiday by 1965?

A

Full employment and broader rights for workers meant that 60% of working adults had 2-3 weeks of paid holiday per year. But 25% had no holiday entitlement.

64
Q

What proportion of middle class people went on holiday compared to working class people?

A

1960s:

  • ~1/3 of middle class took regular holidays abroad
  • Only ~1/5 of working class could afford holidays abroad
65
Q

How many people went on holiday abroad in the 50s compared to the 70s?

A
  • ~1.5M went abroad in 1951
  • 1971: 4 million holidays abroad
  • 8.5M in 1972; declined in 1973 due to rise in prices.
  • 1981: 13 million holidays abroad
66
Q
  1. How many cars were there by 1934?

2. Why didn’t more people buy cars in the 1920s?

A
  1. 2.5M, 1/2 were privately owned

2. eg The Rover 10/25 cost £250 in 1929 (~£11k today), far beyond what most families could afford.

67
Q

Why did more people buy cars in the 1930s than tde 1920s?

A

Car prices fell considerably:

  • Austin Seven (small family car) £125
  • Morris Minor SV- first £100 car, went into production 1931
68
Q

In the 1930s, who were the main buyers of cars?

A

New prices were affordable to middle class motorists but still beyond reach of working class families. But secondhand car sellers would sell at £40-70 for those whose budget wasn’t enough for a new one.

69
Q

What did working class motorists do to be able to afford a car?

A

Formed syndicates where they shared the cost and usage of the car. The development of mass marketing and consumerism made cars a desirable possession.

70
Q

How did car ownership lead to road-building expansion?

A

In the 1930s, many new tarmac-covered roads built on pre-existing highways, but new roads, oft cutting through Britain’s most scenic countryside, were also built.

71
Q

Which major civil engineering projects were the result of increased car ownership?

A
  • Mersey Tunnel (opened 1934)
  • The Great North Road (finished in 1939)
  • But there were very few major roads on eve of WW2
72
Q

1930 Road Traffic Act- what did it do to speed limits?

A

Removed speed limits from all but most dangerous stretches of road as og 20mph limit was almost unenforceable- w/o sophisticated methods of obtaining speedm police couldn’t effectively prosecute.

73
Q

How did the 1930 Road Traffic Act contribute to road safety?

A

Introduced:

  • Compulsory 3rd party insurance
  • The Highway Code
  • Powers for local authorities to control traffic with traffic lights, roundabouts, and one-way streets.
74
Q

Road deaths in 20s and 30s

A
  • 1926-1930: 124,000 car crashes-> 4,800 deaths
  • 1934: 7,343 deaths, 231,603 injuries
  • Led to 1934 Road Traffic Act
75
Q

1934 Road Traffic Act

A
  • Reduced speed limit to 30mph in built-up areas
  • Introduced pedestrian crossings
  • Required drivers to take tests to earn driving licence
76
Q

How did increased car ownership affect other industries?

A

New industry of car workshops, garages, petrol stations developed to provide motorists w/all they needed to maintain their car. Car engines became more reliable by 30s- customers increasingly looked to cars>rail travel.

77
Q

How was driving a leisure activity in its own right?

A

Travel guides w/maps, ideas about places to visit and stay became popular. Cars used for day+weekend trips and new market emerged for books on rural Britain.

78
Q
  1. Why was car ownership stagnant during WW2?

2. After the war many models that came off the production lines were plagued with problems and faults. Why?

A
  1. Production lines used for fighter aircraft. War also restricted how much petrol motorists could use until 1950
  2. Combo of: - Poor labour-manager relations eg Ford’s Dagenham plant and Morris Motor’s factory at Cowley
    - Autocratic management in major car firms weakened car ind
79
Q

By the 1970s, what was the reputation of the British car industry?

A

Became synonym of poor quality and faulty cars eg PM Callaghan ordered 2 new ministerial cards from Rover; they had to be returned w/34 faults, incl faulty windows.

80
Q

How did British consumers respond to the declining quality of British cars?

A

Increasingly chose better made and cheaper imports, mainly from Japan and Germany.

  • 1/3 cars imported in 1975 and 1/2 by 1979 vs <1% at end of 40s
  • Bought millions of VW Beetles + later Golfs, + small, reliable, cheap Japanese car Datsun (Nissan) Sunny
81
Q

Were people affected by the failure of the British car industry?

A

Little overall impact on living standards or driving habits; most demonstrated that they weren’t loyal to a certain British brand but simply went w/price, quality + reliability

82
Q

How did the car ownership habits of the middle class affect their living standards?

A

As early as 50s middle fams oft had 2 cars, so middle men could commute to work; new villages eg Tewin Wood in Hertfordshire were constructed on fringe of cities; became almost exclusively middle class.

83
Q

Who were least likely to own cars?

A

Working class families in the northeast. So, working-class kids from these areas were much less likely to travel far away from home, even when they left home for uni.

84
Q

What happened to other transport industries due to the increase in car ownership?

A

Decline in bus and coach journeys:

  • Had grown significantly w/growth of holidays- by 1952 made up 42% of all journeys
  • Car travel meanwhile increased form 58B to 286Bkm
85
Q

When was the most significant period of road development?

A
  • 1958: Preston bypass road opened- 1st 8mile stretch of motorway
  • 1959: M1 Motorway built between London-Birmingham
  • Throughout 60s and 70s motorways were gradually completed.
86
Q

How did the development of these major new high speed roads (motorways) affect quality of life for much of the population?

A
  • Environmentalists complained about loss of green space and wild animal habitats
  • Homeowners close to motorways felt impact of noise + traffic
  • Ppl were more mobile and found it easier than ever to travel across the country; made it easier to commute, relocate for work, and live further away from hometowns.
87
Q

Did the rise in popularity of cars completely nuke the railway system?

A

No:

  • 1955: 994M passenger-km
  • 1965: 865M passenger-km
  • 1960 (peak): 1,100M passenger-km
88
Q

What were the main reasons for the railway decline?

A

Rising operating costs incl wage levels meant nationalised railways ceased making profit at start of 60s and by 1962 had made a £104M loss- ~£300k a day.

89
Q

What was the Beeching Axe?

A

Dr. Richard Beeching, Head of British Transport Commission, decided to prioritise road network, promoted big reduction in rail system in 1963 report The Reshaping of British Railways, removed 5k miles of railways despite public opposition

90
Q

What was the effect of the Beeching Axe?

A
  • Britain now had half its pre-war railway capacity
  • Increase in pressure on road network- became increasingly congested throughout 60s and 70s
  • While railway usage may not have fallen before it, it did after it
91
Q

Why were so many opposed to the Beeching Axe?

A
  • Many ppl in remote areas w/no access to cars relied on railways to connect them with nearby towns, cities
  • Others looked on our railway system w/nostalgic pride, knowing how important it had been in 19th century Industrial Revolution
92
Q

Were there any cuts before the Beeching Axe that made it seem like a good idea?

A
  • 3,000 miles had already been cut in 50s
  • 1948-1961: railway staff fell 26%
  • Some lines eg Thetford to Swaffham (Norfolk) recouped only 10% of operating costs
93
Q

Why was the Beeching Axe an arguably good idea in terms of the already failing rail industry?

A

Industry couldn’t continue as it was- and Beeching did recommend investment in profit-making intercity services + modernising freight services through use of containers> wagons.

94
Q

Why was the Beeching Axe an arguably good idea in terms of what was considered the new path at the time?

A

While demand for rail transport has since increased, it was widely believed at time the future lay w/roads and politicians acted accordingly

95
Q

Why were people reluctant to go on holiday via a ferry before the 60s?

A

Until the advent of roll-on roll-off ferries in the 60s, taking a car abroad was expensive, time-consuming- involved a crane. Became more common in 60s but air travel was preferred for longer journeys.

96
Q

When did the first international air service begin?

A

Aug 1919: Air Transport and Travel fly 1 person from Hounslow near London to Le Bourget near Paris for £21. Other companie soon flying this route, but oft failed- low demand and no subsidies from govt (unlike France).

97
Q

Major developments in Air Travel in 20s and 30s

A
  • 1924: 4 major Brit companies became Imperial Airways w/govt subsidies to encourage creation of air routes to countries of Empire
  • By 1932 possible to fly to Oz using Brit colonies as refuelling stations
98
Q

What was air travel like during the 20s and what was demand for it like?

A

Glamorous- flying boats over Atlantic, comfy plane seats. But 1937 saw less than 250k passengers; even by ‘55 when direct US flights were possible, there were less than 1M passenger journeys.

99
Q

What led to increased demand for air travel by 1970?

A
  • Advent of cheap holidays led to growing demand- no. of passenger journeys increased to 14M by 1970.
  • Laker Airlines (est June ‘66) pioneered cheaper flights- they were charter-only so were booked in advance by holiday companies as joint resort and transport package. Precursor of modern ‘no frills’ airlines.