Tag Archives: Boeing 747-436

Last hurrah for the BA 1984 Landor livery as G-BNLY arrives at Dunsfold

British Airways made this announcement along with photos:

One of British Airways’ last remaining Boeing 747-400 aircraft took to the skies for the final time this weekend, setting off for its new home at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

Adorned in the iconic Landor livery, the heritage Centenary jumbo jet – registration G-BNLY – departed from British Airways’ engineering base in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon.

Since entering the British Airways fleet on February 1, 1993, G-BNLY has operated 14,016 flights and flown for more than 122,358 hours over nearly 60 million miles. Its last passenger flight was from Cape Town to Heathrow on March 22, 2020.

Following its short journey to Dunsfold, where it will be preserved for future generations to enjoy, it performed a final fly over before being welcomed by a small crowd of enthusiastic spectators.

Above Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-BNLY (msn 27090) LHR (SPA). Image: 946275.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

Video:

British Airways Boeing 747-400 G-CIVB to be preserved at Cotswold Airport

British Airways has made this announcement:

Cotswold Airport will be the permanent home to an iconic British Airways 747 aircraft for locals and visitors to enjoy.

The Boeing 747-400, registration G-CIVB, will be permanently retired at Cotswold Airport, near Kemble in Gloucestershire. The aircraft is painted in the unique Negus livery which adorned British Airways planes in the 1970s and 1980s. The aircraft was one of four painted in heritage liveries to mark the airline’s centenary last year. It was also one of the final two British Airways 747s to leave Heathrow last month.

The airport will maintain the aircraft and plans to convert an area of its interior to be used as a unique business, conferencing and private hire venue, as well as a cinema for locals and an educational facility for school trips. It is planned that the aircraft will be open to the public from Spring 2021.

Since entering the British Airways fleet on February 15, 1994, G-CIVB operated 13,398 flights and flew for 118,445 hours over nearly 60 million miles. Its last passenger flight was from Miami to Heathrow on April 6, 2020.

A large percentage of all money raised from events on the aircraft will be used to support Cotswold Airport’s scholarship program and charities. Every year the scholarship helps 10 students who have an interest in aviation related sectors or careers to undertake instructional flight time or experience various aviation career environments. This programme gives the students a fabulous insight, and many have gone on to careers in the Navy and RAF.

Above Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-CIVB (msn 25811) (Negus) LHR (SPA). Image: 946137.

British Airways aircraft slide show (Boeing):

BA’s G-CIVW will begin its new life as a TV and film set

British Airways made this announcement:

A British Airways 747 will today depart for Dunsfold Aerodrome where it will begin its new life as a TV and film set.

The aircraft, registration G-CIVW (top), will depart from Cardiff Airport at 1.30 pm as flight number BA1978E, landing in Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey at 2.15 pm.

On landing it will be handed over to the airport which will preserve the aircraft for use as a commercial film set and training facility. The aircraft which will keep its Chatham Dockyard livery. It will be stored in public view on the airfield. In time the aircraft will be opened up as an exhibition for visitors to experience up close the size and scale of the Queen of the Skies.

The aircraft, like many other 747s, has ties with the world of film, having flown many actors across its cabins and having often visited film set hotspots like Los Angeles and New York. In its new role it will feature more prominently in front of the camera, used to mock up interior and exterior shots for TV and film.

With an aviation heritage that includes the development of military aircraft such as the Harrier, Hawk and Hunter, Dunsfold Aerodrome is the perfect fit for the generation-defining 747. Just 13 miles west of London Gatwick, the Aerodrome provides a convenient location for a variety of aircraft operations including flight testing, maintenance, repair, storage, hangarage and apron parking.

After entering the British Airways fleet on May 15, 1998, G-CIVW operated 11,424 flights and flew 90,617 hours over 45 million miles. Its last passenger flight was from Boston to Heathrow on 28 March, 2020. After its final commercial flight, the aircraft was stored at Bournemouth Airport before moving to storage at Cardiff Airport in June.

Top Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-CIVW (msn 25822) SEA (Nick Dean). Image: 951653.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

British Airways says goodbye to the first of its last Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jets

British Airways on August 18 is retiring its first Boeing 747 since announcing last month that all 31 of its jumbo jets had sadly flown their last commercial services.

The Boeing 747-400, registration G-CIVD, departed from London Heathrow on Tuesday, August 18 at 9am local time under flight number BA9170E after more than 25 magnificent years of flying.

Above Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-CIVD (msn 27349) (Oneworld) LHR (SPA). Image: 935730.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

British Airways’ fleet of 747s are being retired at an accelerated rate as a result of the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the airline and the aviation sector, which is not predicted to recover to 2019 levels until at least 2024*.

Al Bridger, British Airways’ Director of Flight Operations, said: “All of us at British Airways and so many of our customers will have fond memories and special moments from our travels on the iconic jumbo jet.

“As a pilot who was lucky enough to fly the aircraft, the sheer scale of it was unforgettable, you literally looked down on other aircraft. It changed aviation forever when it arrived in the skies and I know I speak for our customers and the global aviation community when I say, despite rightly moving to more sustainable ways of flying, we will still miss the 747 dearly.”

A full fact file on G-CIVD is below.

British Airways 747 – G-CIVD fact file:

Date it entered service	14 December 1994
Retirement date	19 August 2020
Popular / recent routes	Last flight was to Lagos, part of the repatriation effort, on 18 April 2020
Liveries worn	Landor – ‘City of Coventry’ Current: Union Flag / Chatham Dockyard with oneworld logo
Seating configuration	First: 14 Club: 52 World Traveller Plus: 36 World Traveller: 243
Facts and stats (approximate)	Top speed: 565mph Take off speed: 180mph Length: 70.6m, Height: 19.41m, Wingspan: 64.4m Weight: 184 tonnes, maximum take-off weight 378 tonnes 4 x Rolls-Royce RB211-524 engines Flown 115,276.8 hours, 13,364 flights and over 50 million miles

The 747 has been an iconic part of British Airways’ fleet for nearly fifty years. At one point the airline operated 57 of the aircraft, with the jumbo jet’s first flight to New York in 1971.

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.

British Airways parks most of its Boeing 747-400s

British Airways has ferried the pictured Boeing 747-436 G-BNLY to Bournemouth (BOH) for storage. The Jumbo has been taken out of service. The airliner was painted in the 1984 Landor livery to help celebrate 100 Years of flying.

Five Boeing 747-400s are being moved to BOH today and 5 to Teruel Airpot (TEV), Spain tomorrow.

The aircraft are being moved from Heathrow Airport due to the reduced schedule and aircraft parking constraints.

British Airways is storing its Boeing 747-400s at Bournemouth, Cardiff and Teruel.

There appears to be three active BA 747-400s as of April 4, 2020 (G-BYGC, G-BYGG and G-CIVY).

British Airways now has over 30 aircraft parked at Bournemouth.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

British Airways selects the 1973 Negus livery as the fourth heritage livery on G-CIVB

British Airways released this statement:

After much speculation, British Airways has today revealed the fourth and final design in its series of heritage liveries to mark the airline’s centenary – a Boeing 747 painted in the Negus design.

The Boeing 747-400, registration G-CIVB, entered the IAC paint bay at Dublin Airport last Saturday where it is being repainted with the first version of the Negus livery which adorned the British Airways fleet from 1974-1980, directly after the merger of BOAC and BEA and the formation of the airline customers know today.

When it initially flew, the Negus livery was the first time an aircraft had carried “British Airways“ since 1939, when the original British Airways Limited merged with Imperial Airways to form BOAC. Interestingly, the Union Flag is not present on the side of the aircraft as, like the final BEA aircraft livery, the flag began to be fully celebrated on the aircraft’s tailfin instead.

The repainted 747 will return to Heathrow and enter service later this month flying to long-haul destinations served by the Boeing 747, with the design remaining on the aircraft until it retires in 2022.

The Negus is the fourth and final heritage design to be painted on a British Airways aircraft following a British Overseas Airways Corporate (BOAC) liveried Boeing 747, a British European Airways (BEA) Airbus 319 and a British Airways Landor 747, all of which are already flying.

The special series of designs are being introduced to mark British Airways’ centenary, as the airline celebrates its past while looking to the future. Alongside the heritage liveries, all new aircraft entering the fleet, including the A350, will continue to receive today’s Chatham Dockyard design.

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “Rumours have been circulating for quite some time about this final livery, so it’s exciting to confirm it is the Negus design. It’s particularly significant for us because it’s the first design worn by the British Airways that we all know today, with the distinctive lower case ‘a’ and the Union Flag on the tailfin.”

Below is a video of the 747 aircraft which will be painted in the Negus livery departing Heathrow for Dublin earlier this month:

In its centenary year British Airways is hosting a range of activities and events. As well as looking back, the airline is also hosting BA 2119 – a program, which will lead the debate on the future of flying and explore the future of sustainable aviation fuels, the aviation careers of the future and the customer experience of the future.

The airline will be working with expert partners to identify BA’s 100 Great Britons; the people up and down the country who are currently shaping modern Britain, and of course, the year would not be complete without some special flying and moments for customers.

The centenary activity is taking place alongside the airline’s current five-year £6.5bn investment for customers. This includes the installation of the best quality WiFi and power in every seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. The airline will also be introducing a new Club World seat with direct aisle access later this year.

Editor’s Note: BOAC Boeing 707 G-AXXY was the first aircraft to wear the Negus and Negus livery in September 1973. BOAC and BEA merged officially on April 1, 1974.

British Airways aircraft slide show (historic liveries):

Below Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 747-136 G-AWNP (msn 20952) MIA (Bruce Drum). Image: 102983.

British Airways unveils again the Landor livery on G-BNLY, departs for Miami

Boeing 747, reg G-BNLY, arrived at Heathrow this morning in the recognizable Landor livery
The aircraft will take to the skies on long-haul routes currently served by the Boeing 747
British Airways is painting selected aircraft in heritage designs to mark its centenary

Saturday March 9, 2019 – British Airways today welcomed the arrival of the third in its series of four heritage liveries – a Boeing 747 painted in the Landor design, which will be recognizable for many as it flew on British Airways aircraft between 1984-1997.

(Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)

The Boeing 747-436, registration G-BNLY, touched down at Heathrow this morning and will enter service this afternoon to Miami as flight BA211. It will be flying to long-haul destinations served by the Boeing 747-400, with the design remaining on the aircraft until it retires in 2023.

The aircraft marks the third heritage design to join the fleet, with one final design to be revealed later this month as the airline continues to celebrate its past while looking to the future in its centenary year. As with the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) liveried 747, and the British European Airways (BEA) liveried A319, the aircraft can be followed using tracking website Flightradar24.

The centenary activity is taking place alongside the airline’s current five-year £6.5bn investment for customers. This includes the installation of the best quality WiFi and power in every seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. The airline will also be introducing new Club World seat with direct aisle access later this year.

Photos Above: British Airways.

Above Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-BNLY (msn 27090) LHR (SPA). Image: 945933.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

Video:

British Airways decides to paint G-BNLY in the Landor design

British Airways has decided to paint Boeing 747-436 G-BNLY in the 1984 Landor design rather than the 1973 Negus design as previously reported. G-BNLY will become the third design in the series as part of BA’s centenary celebrations. G-BNLY is currently being painted at Dublin.

The 747-400 type has flown in the Landor livery in the past such as G-CIVK (above).

Top Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-CIVK (msn 25818) LHR (SPA). Image: 940522.

British Airways aircraft slide show (Historic Liveries):

The airline issued this statement:

The iconic Landor design will be the next heritage livery to take to the skies on a Boeing 747
Aircraft landed in Dublin earlier this week to be painted and will return to Heathrow later in the month
Aircraft is the third in a series of heritage liveries flying as part of British Airways’ centenary celebrations – a British Overseas Airways Corporate (BOAC) liveried Boeing 747 is already operating around the airline’s long-haul network, and an Airbus 319 is currently being painted with the British European Airways (BEA) livery

British Airways has today revealed the third design in its series of heritage liveries to mark the airline’s centenary – a Boeing 747-400 painted in the iconic Landor design.

The announcement comes after huge crowds turned out to see the first heritage livery – a 747 in British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) colors, which touched down at Heathrow last week and follows the news that an Airbus 319 is currently being re-painted in the British European Airways (BEA) livery.

The Boeing 747-400, registration G-BNLY, entered the IAC paint bay at Dublin Airport earlier this week where it will be repainted with the Landor livery, which adorned the British Airways fleet from 1984-1997. Design features include the British Airways coat of arms with the motto To Fly. To Serve. on the tail fin, with a stylised section of the Union Flag. It will also be re-named ‘City of Swansea’, the name the aircraft had when it originally sported the Landor livery. The livery also features the airlines’ centenary logo, which is proudly displayed on all the centenary heritage liveried aircraft.

It will return to Heathrow and enter service later in the month flying to long-haul destinations served by the Boeing 747, with the design remaining on the aircraft until it retires in 2023.

The Landor, BEA and BOAC heritage liveries are part of a special series to mark British Airways’ centenary, as the airline celebrates its past while looking to the future. One final replica design will be revealed in due course, while all new aircraft entering the fleet, including the A350, will continue to receive today’s Chatham Dockyard design.

A potted history of BA:

On August 25, 1919, British Airways’ forerunner company, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T), launched the world’s first daily international scheduled air service between London and Paris.
In 1924, Britain’s four main fledgling airlines, which had by then evolved into Instone, Handley Page, Daimler Airways (a successor to AT&T), and British Air Marine Navigation Company Limited, merged to form Imperial Airways Limited.
By 1925, Imperial Airways was providing services to Paris, Brussels, Basle, Cologne and Zurich. Meanwhile, a number of smaller UK air transport companies had started flights and in 1935, they merged to form the original privately-owned British Airways Limited, which became Imperial Airways’ principal UK competitor on European routes.
Following a Government review, Imperial Airways and British Airways were nationalised in 1939 to form British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Continental European and domestic flights were flown by a new airline, British European Airways (BEA) from 1946. BOAC introduced services to New York in 1946, Japan in 1948, Chicago in 1954 and the west coast of the United States in 1957. BEA developed a domestic network to various points in the United Kingdom, including Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
From 1946 until 1960, BOAC and BEA were the principal British operators of scheduled international passenger and cargo services – and they preserved Britain’s pioneering role in the industry. The 1950s saw the world enter the passenger jet era – led by BOAC, with the Comet flying to Johannesburg in 1952, halving the previous flight time.
Additional airlines began to pass into BEA’s ownership and in 1967, the Government recommended a holding board be responsible for BOAC and BEA, with the establishment of a second force airline, resulting in British Caledonian being born in 1970.
Two years later, the businesses of BOAC and BEA were combined under the newly formed British Airways Board, with the separate airlines coming together as British Airways in 1974.
In July 1979, the Government announced its intention to sell shares in British Airways and in February 1987 British Airways was privatised.
In January 2011 the International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) was formed when British Airways and Iberia merged. IAG has since also become the parent company of Aer Lingus, and Vueling and in 2017, IAG launched LEVEL a new low-cost airline brand that operates from Barcelona, Paris and Vienna.

First Look: Rolled out today at Dublin – a BOAC Boeing 747-400

Copyright Photo: BOAC (British Airways) Boeing 747-436 G-BYGC (msn 25823) (British Airways 100 1919-2019) DUB (Greenwing). Image: 945722.

As previously reported, as part of its 100-year birthday, British Airways previously announced it will be painting a Boeing 747-400 in the much-admired design of its predecessor British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

The livery from the 1964 – 1974 BOAC era now adorns this Boeing 747-400, registration G-BYGC.

The aircraft will leave the paint shop in Dublin and arrive in to Heathrow on February 18, before entering service the following day. This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first Boeing 747 flight only a few days earlier.

The BOAC 747 will be the first aircraft to receive a popular design from British Airways’ past with more details of further designs to be revealed in due course. Aircraft which receive the retro liveries will fly British Airways’ routes, proudly showcasing some of the popular designs as part of the airline’s centenary celebrations.

All new aircraft entering the fleet, including the Airbus A350, will continue to receive today’s popular Chatham Dockyard design.

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “So many British Airways customers and colleagues have fond memories of our previous liveries, regularly sharing their photos from across the globe, so it’s incredibly exciting to be re-introducing this classic BOAC design.

“Our history has shaped who we are today, so our centenary is the perfect moment to revisit our heritage and the UK’s aviation landscape through this iconic livery.”

The 747 has been deliberately chosen for the BOAC livery as it is a later variant of the same aircraft type that adorned the design when it was initially in operation.

The BOAC livery will remain on the Boeing 747-400 until it retires in 2023. By this time, British Airways will have retired the majority of its 747 fleet, replacing them with new state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft. This includes taking delivery of 18 A350s and 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the next four years – which feature new cabins and are more environmentally efficient – as well as another 26 short-haul aircraft, all part of the airline’s £6.5bn investment for customers.

A potted history of BA:

On August 25, 1919, British Airways’ forerunner company, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T), launched the world’s first daily international scheduled air service between London and Paris.
In 1924, Britain’s four main fledgling airlines, which had by then evolved into Instone, Handley Page, Daimler Airways (a successor to AT&T), and British Air Marine Navigation Company Limited, merged to form Imperial Airways Limited.
By 1925, Imperial Airways was providing services to Paris, Brussels, Basle, Cologne and Zurich. Meanwhile, a number of smaller UK air transport companies had started flights and in 1935, they merged to form the original privately-owned British Airways Limited, which became Imperial Airways’ principal UK competitor on European routes.
Following a Government review, Imperial Airways and British Airways were nationalised in 1939 to form British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Continental European and domestic flights were flown by a new airline, British European Airways (BEA) from 1946. BOAC introduced services to New York in 1946, Japan in 1948, Chicago in 1954 and the west coast of the United States in 1957. BEA developed a domestic network to various points in the United Kingdom, including Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
From 1946 until 1960, BOAC and BEA were the principal British operators of scheduled international passenger and cargo services – and they preserved Britain’s pioneering role in the industry. The 1950s saw the world enter the passenger jet era – led by BOAC, with the Comet flying to Johannesburg in 1952, halving the previous flight time.
Additional airlines began to pass into BEA’s ownership and in 1967, the Government recommended a holding board be responsible for BOAC and BEA, with the establishment of a second force airline, resulting in British Caledonian being born in 1970.
Two years later, the businesses of BOAC and BEA were combined under the newly formed British Airways Board, with the separate airlines coming together as British Airways in 1974.
In July 1979, the Government announced its intention to sell shares in British Airways and in February 1987 British Airways was privatised.

British Airways to paint a Boeing 747-400 in the BOAC livery, the first of legacy liveries

British Airways has made this announcement:

As part of its 100-year birthday, British Airways has announced it will be painting a Boeing 747-400 in the much-admired design of its predecessor British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

The livery from the 1964 – 1974 BOAC era will adorn a Boeing 747-400, registration G-BYGC (below).

Above Copyright Photo: British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-BYGC (msn 25823) LHR (SPA). Image: 945336.

A Boeing 747 long-range wide-body four engined commercial jet airliner for the BOAC – British Overseas Airways Corporation flying above the United Kingdom on 7 April 1971. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

All new aircraft entering the fleet, including the Airbus A350, will continue to receive today’s popular Chatham Dockyard design.

“Our history has shaped who we are today, so our centenary is the perfect moment to revisit our heritage and the UK’s aviation landscape through this iconic livery.”

The 747 has been deliberately chosen for the BOAC livery as it is a later variant of the same aircraft type that adorned the design when it was initially in operation.

A potted history of BA:

On August 25, 1919, British Airways’ forerunner company, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T), launched the world’s first daily international scheduled air service between London and Paris.
In 1924, Britain’s four main fledgling airlines, which had by then evolved into Instone, Handley Page, Daimler Airways (a successor to AT&T), and British Air Marine Navigation Company Limited, merged to form Imperial Airways Limited.
By 1925, Imperial Airways was providing services to Paris, Brussels, Basle, Cologne and Zurich. Meanwhile, a number of smaller UK air transport companies had started flights and in 1935, they merged to form the original privately-owned British Airways Limited, which became Imperial Airways’ principal UK competitor on European routes.
Following a Government review, Imperial Airways and British Airways were nationalised in 1939 to form British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Continental European and domestic flights were flown by a new airline, British European Airways (BEA) from 1946. BOAC introduced services to New York in 1946, Japan in 1948, Chicago in 1954 and the west coast of the United States in 1957. BEA developed a domestic network to various points in the United Kingdom, including Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
From 1946 until 1960, BOAC and BEA were the principal British operators of scheduled international passenger and cargo services – and they preserved Britain’s pioneering role in the industry. The 1950s saw the world enter the passenger jet era – led by BOAC, with the Comet flying to Johannesburg in 1952, halving the previous flight time.
Additional airlines began to pass into BEA’s ownership and in 1967, the Government recommended a holding board be responsible for BOAC and BEA, with the establishment of a second force airline, resulting in British Caledonian being born in 1970.
Two years later, the businesses of BOAC and BEA were combined under the newly formed British Airways Board, with the separate airlines coming together as British Airways in 1974.
In July 1979, the Government announced its intention to sell shares in British Airways and in February 1987 British Airways was privatised.

Top Copyright Photo: BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) Boeing 747-136 G-AWNC (msn 19763) JFK (Bruce Drum). Image: 102915.

BOAC aircraft slide show: