British South American Airways

British South American Airways
Founded25 January 1944
Commenced operations1 January 1946
Ceased operations1 January 1950
Operating bases
SubsidiariesBritish West Indian Airways
Fleet sizeSee List of aircraft below
Parent companyGovernment owned after 1 August 1946
Key people

British South American Airways (BSAA) was a state-run airline of the United Kingdom in the mid-to-late 1940s responsible for services to the Caribbean and South America. Originally named British Latin American Air Lines, it was renamed before services started in 1946. BSAA operated mostly Avro aircraft: Yorks, Lancastrians and Tudors and flew to Bermuda, the West Indies, Mexico and the western coast of South America. After two high-profile aircraft disappearances it was merged into the British Overseas Airways Corporation at the end of 1949.

Most of BSAA's aircraft were given individual aircraft names beginning with "Star", which have long been used in long-range celestial navigation.