On May 2, 1952, the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) inaugurated the world's first jet passenger service with the de Havilland Comet, flying from London to Johannesburg. The Comet was the first jet airliner to enter commercial service, offering a much faster and smoother ride than propeller-driven planes. This was a turning point in aviation history and marked the beginning of the jet age for civilian travel.

The dawn of the jet age for the public was a massive cultural shift, making travel faster and more glamorous, and inspiring many writers to reflect on the shrinking of the world and the acceleration of time. The jet engine became a symbol of modernity and progress, but also of rootlessness and the relentless pace of modern life. The Comet's smooth flight was a new experience that poets and writers tried to capture in their work.