(Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)
Due to the very bleak outlook for passenger demand during this coronavirus pandemic, British Airways is forced to retire its entire fleet of 31 Boeing 747s. Aviation enthusiasts were speculating about the future of the “Queen of the Skies“, hence the airline issued a statement.
“The whole airline community is reconciling itself to a bleak outlook for passenger demand,” the airline said, adding that long-haul travel will take years to recover: “the major industry bodies agree that we will not see a return to 2019 levels until 2023 at the soonest. The bulk of our fleet is large, wide-bodied, long-haul aircraft with many premium seats, intended to carry high volumes of customers.”
“The unofficial flagship of our fleet, the 747-400 has a very special place in the hearts of aviation enthusiasts and many of us. We know how many memories of this extra-special aircraft are shared across the British Airways family and our proposal to retire the fleet early has only been taken in response to the crisis we find ourselves in.”
Just a year ago, British Airways lovingly re-painted four of its jumbo jets in heritage colours to mark the company’s centenary. The BOAC jet put in a guest appearance with the Red Arrows much to the delight of spectators at the Royal International Air Tattoo, and sadly the aircraft will shortly be heading towards its final resting place alongside 30 others.
The fuel-hungry aircraft were slowly being phased out by British Airways as they reached the end of their working life in order to help meet the company’s commitment to net zero by 2050. The airline has invested heavily in new, modern long-haul aircraft including six A350s and 32 787s which are around 25 per cent more fuel-efficient than the 747. As part of the airline’s £6.5 billion injection into customer experience in recent years, existing aircraft have been refurbished and the brand new arrivals have come into the British Airways’ fleet complete with a luxurious business class Club Suite product.
Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “This is not how we wanted or expected to have to say goodbye to our incredible fleet of 747 aircraft. It is a heartbreaking decision to have to make. So many people, including many thousands of our colleagues past and present, have spent countless hours on and with these wonderful planes – they have been at the centre of so many memories, including my very first long-haul flight. They will always hold a special place in our hearts at British Airways.
“We have committed to making our fleet more environmentally friendly as we look to reduce the size of our business to reflect the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on aviation. As painful as it is, this is the most logical thing for us to propose. The retirement of the jumbo jet will be felt by many people across Britain, as well as by all of us at British Airways. It is sadly another difficult but necessary step as we prepare for a very different future.”
BOAC operated its first 747 London to New York service on 14th April 1971 and in July 1989 the first British Airways 747-400, the aircraft type the airline still flies today, took to the skies.
Plane spotters who lined Heathrow’s perimeter fences would watch as the magnificent 747-400 would typically take off at 180mph and reach cruising speeds in the sky of up to 565mph.
For the next decade, the airline took delivery of 56 more of the aircraft, with its final plane delivered in April 1989. At the time, it was the largest commercial aircraft in the world, and it remained so until the Airbus A380 first took to the skies in 2007.
At one point British Airways operated 57 747-400 aircraft. The original aircraft featured 27 First Class seats and 292 Economy seats. Initially, the upper deck, widely described as the bubble, contained a lounge, with lounge chair seating. It was known as the ‘club in the sky’ and the aircraft also played host to the world’s very first flatbed seat which British Airways pioneered in 1999.
Today’s aircraft can seat up to 345 customers in four classes – First, Club World (Business), World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) and World Traveller (Economy). British Airways recently refreshed the interiors of a number of its 747 aircraft which were expected to remain in service for several years to come.
The airline’s jumbo jets are currently grounded at various locations in the UK and are now only expected to reach heights of 35,000 feet as they make their final journeys.
In 2019, British Airways celebrated its centenary with a series of heritage liveries: three Boeing 747-400 (BOAC, Landor, Negus) and one Airbus A319 (British European Airways):
British Airways’ Boeing 747 in BOAC livery has arrived at London Heathrow
British Airways’ Boeing 747 in Landor livery has landed at London Heathrow
The final British Airways Heritage livery arrives at Heathrow as centenary celebrations continue
British Airways Airbus A319 in stunning British European Airways (BEA) livery
>”For the next decade, the airline took delivery of 56 more of the aircraft, with its final plane delivered in April 1989″
Last aircraft of a series of 7 ordered (G-BYGA through G-BYGG) was delivered in April 1999,
not 1989!