Boeing 747: British Airways retires its last jumbo jet after the impact of COVID-19
Heathrow Airport will later witness aviation history as British Airways retires its last two iconic 747 aircraft.
The much-awaited jumbo jet has extended its retirement over the years due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the airline.
The last two Heathrow based Boeing 747 aircraft of British Airways departed from the airport for the final time.
The airline arranged a special send-off at 8.30am on Thursday (October 8) with a synchronised dual take off on parallel runways at Heathrow, which was followed by a flypast along the southerly runway by one of the aircraft (G-CIVY in current BA livery) as it bids its home a final farewell.
BA has been live streaming moments from the departure on its Facebook page and is also inviting its colleagues, aviation enthusiasts and customers to share any special memories or photos of British Airways 747 s on social media channels at 7.47am and 7.47pm on their departure day using the hashtag #BA747farewell.
Two flights will take off at the same time, one destined for an airfield in Kemble, near Cirencester, and the other for an airfield near Cardiff.Both jets will eventually be broken down for spares.
"It's going to be a very emotional day," said BA captain Al Bridger, who has flown the 747 for three decades.
"You deliver an aircraft to its destination, you shut it down and it's almost like switching off its life support for the last time.
"In the past I have actually apologised to aircraft when I've done it. It's going to be a day of mixed emotions."
Boeing-made jets are often described as "Queen of the Skies" and are noted for their classic look and stylish engineering.
Its being missed, said BA engineer John Moore, who has worked on him for 35 years and first saw a 747 flight in the US in 1970 with his designer father.I will be very sad because I have four grandchildren and when a jumbo flies home they are always watching and saying this is one of Grandpa plane.It's like losing a family member.
The 747 model has been a mainstay for the airline since the early 1970s, but will be replaced by new aircraft that provide 25% better fuel efficiency.
"You can be anywhere in the world, from Cape Town to Hong Kong to Australia, and when you turn up at the airport and see this plane you will know that you were going home on this grand plane," Jim Davis said British Airways Museum.
"It retains this strange, wonderful charisma that people just love to see. She really is the 'Queen of the Skies'."
British Airways made the decision in July to retire its fleet of 747s as the impact of the virus virtually brought the global aviation industry to its knees.
