In 1947, a proposal to form an airline in Aden using a pair of Bristol Wayfarers did not materialize.

An engineering base was established by BOAC in Asmara, Eritrea, in January 1948 as part of BOACs No.5 Line, which was centered on Aden and served Cairo, Nairobi and the Red Sea area.

On 7 March 1949, Aden Airways Ltd was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of BOAC.

[1] Aden Airways experienced a seasonal increase in passenger numbers due to the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Extra aircraft were leased to cover these flights, notably Avro Yorks from Skyways in 1954 and 1955.