The Boeing 747 has been a feature of the British Airways fleet for over 50 years. However,
a month ago, it was revealed that early retirement of the type is under consideration, potentially
ending half a century of history.
Across the aviation industry, the Boeing 747 is seen as an icon. While maybe not quite
as iconic as Concorde, the queen of the skies has an instantly recognizable shape that almost
everybody knows. However, as twin-jets lead the way with higher efficiency and lower emissions,
the Boeing 747 is sadly becoming a dying breed.
The story of British Airways’ 747s starts back in 1970 before BOAC merged with BEA to
form the airline that we now know. In April 1970, BOAC took delivery of its first Boeing
747-100. The aircraft was just the 23rd to be built by Boeing, according to its line
number. Over the next three years, BOAC took delivery
of a further 14 aircraft. Unfortunately, none of these aircraft remain flying and most have
been scrapped, with a few having been stored. British Airways’ first Boeing 747 left the
fleet in October 1998. The 15 Boeing 747s that BOAC had taken delivery
of were transferred to British Airways in early 1974, following BOAC’s merger with
BEA. In November 1974, the British Airways that
we know today took delivery of its first 747. The airline would go on to take delivery of
four 747-100s, giving it a total fleet size of 19.
Only one of British Airways’ Boeing 747-100 was involved in a hull loss during its time
with the airline. In February 1991, G-AWND was blown up in Kuwait during the Gulf War.
On June 22nd, 1977, British Airways took delivery of its first Boeing 747-200. The airline operated
a total of 24 passenger Boeing 747-200s. Then, in Septemeber 1980, the airline took
delivery of a cargo Boeing 747-200 but transferred it to Cathay Pacific a year and a half later.
The Boeing 747-400 is the British Airways 747 that most people know today. Indeed, it
is the only type still in service with the carrier.
The airline’s first -400 was delivered in June 1989. G-BNLA, flew with the airline for
almost 30 years until 2018 when it was scrapped in Victorville, California.
British Airways operated a total of 57 Boeing 747-400 aircraft. This means that, in total,
the airline has operated 100 passenger 747s and one cargo 747.
Deliveries of the -400s took place for ten years until April 1999, making the airline’s
youngest aircraft just 21 years old. Three of the -400 fleet received retro liveries
in celebration of the airline’s anniversary last year. One wears the -100’s BOAC livery,
another the airline’s Negus livery. Finally, one wears the Landor livery in which it was
initially delivered in 1993. Only one of the airline’s -400 aircraft
has been written off while in the care of the airline. In December 2013, an error during
taxiing saw the wing of G-BNLL slice through the second floor of an airport building in
Johannesburg. The right-wing was severely damaged, and as such, the aircraft was written
off, damaged beyond repair.
The Boeing 747 has been a part of British Airways for half of its 100-year history.
However, this chapter of the book is set to close shortly as the airline’s entire 747
fleet has been earmarked for retirement by 2024.
While most of the airline’s Concorde fleet can now be found at museums across the world,
most of the airlines 747s will likely be scrapped. Hopefully, at least one of BA’s queen of
the skies can be saved to become a museum piece like Concorde.
What’s your favorite memory of the British Airways Boeing 747? Share it with us in the
comments below!