British Airways Finds Permanent Homes for Last Two Remaining Boeing 747 Queen of the Skies
The remaining retro-liveried 747s, registrations G-BNLY and G-BYGC will depart British Airways' engineering base in Cardiff where they will be waved off by BA engineers who have proudly maintained the fleet for many years.
British Airways Boeing 747-400, Registration G-BNLY in Landor Livery - Courtesy British Airways
On Tuesday (December 1, 2020), British Airways announced that they have found permanent homes for their last two remaining Boeing 747s so they can be enjoyed by UK aviation enthusiasts for many years to come. The aircraft, registrations G-BNLY and G-BYGC will depart the carrier's Cardiff engineering base this month and be waved off by the BA engineers who have maintained the aircraft for many years. G-BNLY is painted in British Airways' iconic Landor livery which was used between 1984 and 1987 and will join its sister G-CIVW which retired in October on permanent display at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey. The latter features the carrier's current Chatham Dockyard Livery. In Tuesday's announcement, British Airways' CEO, Sean Doyle, said,
"We think they have great historical importance, not only to British Airways but to the entire aviation industry, and we are pleased they will be preserved for future generations in locations in the UK. As the final 747s to leave our fleet, their departure will be an emotional moment for former and current British Airways staff, including our engineering team in Cardiff who have lovingly looked after our jumbo jets for decades."
British Airways Boeing 747-400, Registration G-BYGC, in BOAC 'Gold Speedbird' Livery - Courtesy British Airways
The other 747, G-BYGC, is painted in the BOAC 'Gold Speedbird' livery used between 1963 and 1974 will travel from Cardiff to its new permanent home at the Bro Tathan business park in the Vale of Flamorgan, where it will be maintained as a heritage piece by aviation specialists eCube solutions. In late October, the Negus-liveried 747, registration G-CIVVB departed London-Heathrow for its permanent new home at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire. The airline announced in July the retirement of its fleet of 31 Boeing 747-400s which will be replaced by more fuel efficient aircraft as part of the company's commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Source: British Airways