British Airways on Friday said it has retired “with immediate effect” its 31 Boeing 747s, adding that the airplanes have “likely” flown their last commercial service. The airline attributed the abrupt decision to accelerate the retirements to Covid-19 effects.
Only a year ago British Airways re-painted three of its jumbo jets in heritage colors to mark the company’s centenary. By that time the airline said it had already decided to gradually remove what it called the fuel-hungry aircraft from the fleet to help meet its commitment to “net-zero” emissions by 2050. BA has invested heavily in modern long-haul aircraft including six Airbus A350s and 32 Boeing 787s, both of which burn about 25 percent less fuel per seat than the 747.
“This is not how we wanted or expected to have to say goodbye to our incredible fleet of 747 aircraft,” said British Airways chairman and CEO Alex Cruz. “It is a heartbreaking decision to have to make. We have committed to making our fleet more environmentally friendly as we look to reduce the size of our business to reflect the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on aviation. As painful as it is, this is the most logical thing for us to propose.”
BOAC operated its first 747 from London to New York in April 1971, and the first British Airways 747-400 entered service in July 1989. By April 1999 British Airways operated 57 Boeing 747-400s and until Friday remained the largest operator of the model.
The airline’s jumbo jets now sit grounded at various locations in the UK.
Last month Qantas retired the last of its six 747-400s, six months ahead of schedule, as part of a wider recovery plan. KLM flew its last 747 passenger flights at the end of May, also ahead of the scheduled 2021 departure of the airline's 747s. Lufthansa now operates the world’s largest 747 fleet, flying 19 new-generation 747-8Is and eight 747-400s.