Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 12 April, 2016 2:51 pm |

British Airways celebrated 80 years of flying to Hong Kong in style with a VIP gala and a unique heritage fashion photoshoot – featuring supermodel David Gandy wearing a vintage 1920s sheepskin flying jacket. 

 

Paying homage to British Airways’ heritage, the British star was photographed with cabin crew as they turned the hustle and bustle streets of Hong Kong into a runway.  

 

Meanwhile, supermodels Imogen Waterhouse and Lizzy Jagger marked British Airways’ 80th celebrations by donning vintage cabin crew attire for a shoot against the backdrop of Hong Kong's iconic skyline.

 

Other stars who attended the gala celebrations included renowned actor David Hasselhoff, singer-songwriter Jessie Ware and two Michelin star chef Tom Aikens.

 

Singer Jessie performed an exclusive live set on the night for the audience of more than 250 distinguished guests, including world-famous entrepreneur Sir David Tang.

 

Meanwhile, chef Tom Aikens served a mix of British and Hong Kong cuisine alongside cocktails created exclusively for British Airways by Boujis Hong Kong.

 

Speaking at the event - which included a fashion show of cabin crew uniforms spanning the decades - model David Gandy said: “I’m delighted to be here in Hong Kong to mark this milestone for British Airways and shooting in the airline’s first pilot uniform on a busy street in Hong Kong was definitely a highlight of the trip. It’s been fascinating to see how the crew fashion has evolved over the years the airline has been flying this route."

 

Jessie Ware, who performed a set including ‘Say you love me’, ‘Wildest moments’ and ‘What you won’t do for Love’, said she was honoured to play a part in the airline’s celebrations. She added: “I’ve been lucky enough to fly to Hong Kong with British Airways several times during my career. It’s a truly fascinating place with an incredible history and unique culture. I love the food and the nightlife. British Airways has been making it possible for people to visit this city for 80 years and I think that’s a very special thing.”

 

Lizzy Jagger, the eldest daughter of Rolling Stones' frontman Sir Mick Jagger said, "I love the energy and excitement of Hong Kong and always have a great time here. Hong Kong has a lot of little amazing boutiques tucked away in small shopping malls in Causeway Bay and Mongkok. If you come to Hong Kong for a treasure hunt then you are in for a treat!”

 

Willie Walsh, CEO of British Airways’ parent company IAG, also attended the event and spoke of the airline’s joy. He said: “Thank you to everyone who has helped us achieve this milestone. This is a very proud moment as we reflect on our heritage as the pioneers of Hong Kong civil aviation.”

 

Gala guests were also treated to a display of artefacts and memorabilia ahead of British Airways’ HK80 pop-up exhibition at the University of Hong Kong, which features models of the aircraft that have flown the route over the years, a cinema screening of a short film about the anniversary and a display showcasing the evolution of the iconic brand.

 

For this milestone, British Airways has partnered with the Department of Sociology at Hong Kong University, Hong Kong Museum of History, and the British Chinese Heritage Centre in the UK to launch a series of exhibitions in Hong Kong focusing on the heritage of the brand and the aviation history in Hong Kong.

 

The HK80 exhibition will be open for the public to visit for free from 6 May until 30 June. It is located in the MC³@702 Creative Space, Level 7 of the Jockey Club Tower, The University of Hong Kong.