Coinciding with the recent anniversary of the Boeing 747’s first flight back in 1969, British Airways has unveiled a historic livery on one of its B747 aircraft.
Arriving back at Heathrow after the completion of a paint project at an IAC paint bay at Dublin Airport, the aircraft’s original British Airways Chatham Dockyard design was replaced with the livery of the airline’s predecessor, the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).
Registered as G-BYGC and aptly named BA100 as a nod to British Airway’s centenary celebrations, the aircraft is set to depart for New York JFK as flight BA117 on 19 February. Following completion of the flight, the aircraft will continue to operate on British Airways’ 747-operated routes.
The original BOAC livery was utilised across British Airways’ predecessor’s fleets between 1964 and 1974.
Alex Cruz, British Airways’ chairman and CEO, said: “The enormous interest we’ve had in this project demonstrates the attachment many people have to British Airways’ history. It’s something we are incredibly proud of, so in our centenary year, it’s a pleasure to be celebrating our past while also looking to the future. We look forward to many more exciting moments like this as our other aircraft with heritage designs enter service.”
According to the airline, the BOAC livery will remain on the Boeing 747 aircraft until its scheduled retirement in 2023. It is expected by that point, British Airways will have retired the majority of its 747 fleet and replaced it with current-gen long-haul aircraft.
This includes the delivery of 18 A350s and 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners within the next four years. Both aircraft types feature improved operational efficiency, reduced environmental impact, as well as wholly new cabin designs. British Airways has also moved to expand its fleet with the addition of 26 short-haul aircraft. Altogether, the airline has invested $8.3bn for the benefit of its customer base.