British Airways 100Th Anniversary Keyring From Boeing 747 G-Bnlj Boxed Brand New • EUR 117,33 (2024)

FAQs

What is BA replacing the 747 with? ›

British Airways had originally intended to phase out the last 747s by 2024 but brought the plans forward in part due to the downturn in air travel following COVID-19 pandemic and to focus on replacing the 747 with the more fuel-efficient Airbus A350, Airbus A380 and Boeing 787.

After 6 weeks of negotiations, it was announced that G-CIVB, the Negus livery B747, rather than being scrapped was to have a permanent home here at Cotswold Airport. Negus arrived here at Cotswold Airport in October 2020, to a warm welcome from crowds of aviation enthusiasts.

In May 2020, Virgin Atlantic announced that its seven remaining 747s would be retiring early and not returning to the skies. The number of UK registered 747s was reduced further a few months later, in July 2020, when British Airways revealed that it would be retiring its 31 remaining Boeing 747s with immediate effect.

But over the last few decades, airlines have pushed aircraft manufacturers for more fuel-efficient planes to reduce costs. Two-engine jets can now fly near the same capacity and fly farther than older, four-engine planes like Boeing's 747 and the Airbus A380.

Boeing has been manufacturing 747 aircraft for more than 50 years. BOAC flew its first 747 flight on 14th April 1971. British Airways took delivery of its first 747-400 in July 1989 and its last in April 1999.

The oldest active 747 aircraft today

The aircraft was built on 13th June 1973 and is 49.81 years old at the time of writing. The oldest passenger aircraft in commercial operation is a Boeing 747-400 EP-MEE (SN 24383) operated by Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline.

And the production stopped because of lack of demand. There was no “high demand”. Airlines prefer twin jets over quad jets. Longer answer: Boeing introduced the 747 back in 1970; that's 54 years ago!

Boeing 747 – The Jumbo Jet

The original Jumbo Jet – the Boeing 747 – is one of the most iconic aircraft models in the history of aviation. While the 747 has seen reduced use at Heathrow in recent years, a number of cargo airlines still operate the type at Heathrow.

The plane costs more than $400 million new. So it was surprising to industry insiders when, last month, a virtually new Boeing 747-8 was sent to the Pinal Airpark boneyard in Marana to be scrapped for parts. The plane had less than 50 flight hours on it, and it was fully functional.

The Jumbo, G-BYGC, like the other special liveried jets, was sold to eCube for a token amount on the basis that it would be preserved but the aircraft salvage company appears to have put profit before preservation and reneged on the deal.

Why did they decommission the 747? ›

Boeing had indeed announced on July 2020 that they have decided to stop producing this very famous airliner in 2022 after over 50 years of service amid a corona-induced crisis in the aviation industry. The main reasons cited were 'dwindling customers demand and low sales' of its latest variant, the Boeing 747-8.

Smaller aircraft, which are easier to fill and maintain, have become more favourable compared to the capacious but fuel-guzzling 747. This shift is driven by practical economic considerations and environmental concerns, as the aviation sector faces growing scrutiny over its environmental impact.

Like the even bigger Airbus A380 (in the foreground), the 747 no longer meets the economic requirements of airlines that prefer long-haul, dual-engine aircraft such as the A350 or the Boeing 777 and 787. In the past year, there were only 20 or so outstanding orders for the 747, all of them for freight carriers.

Boeing 747 – The Jumbo Jet

The original Jumbo Jet – the Boeing 747 – is one of the most iconic aircraft models in the history of aviation. While the 747 has seen reduced use at Heathrow in recent years, a number of cargo airlines still operate the type at Heathrow.