London (TAN): British Airways has announced it will paint one of its Boeing 747 in a vintage design from the 1960s as part of its 100th birthday celebrations.
The B747 aircraft, registration number G-BYGC, will be the first aircraft to get the design inspired by the airline’s predecessor company British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). The retro design was in use between 1964 and 1974.
Following the makeover, the aircraft is expected to arrive at London’s Heathrow Airport from a paint shop in Dublin, Ireland on February 18. It will begin service the next day, which “coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first Boeing 747 flight only a few days earlier.”
Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO, British Airways, 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.”
However, all new aircraft, including the A350, that enter the fleet will be painted with the contemporary Chatham Dockyard design.
The jet was intentionally selected for the BOAC design because it is a “later variant of the same aircraft type that adorned the design when it was initially in operation.” British Airways said that in keeping with the celebrations, aircraft that get retro liveries will fly the airline’s routes to display the designs.
The Boeing 747 will fly with the BOAC livery until its retirement in 2023. Most of the 747 fleet of the airline will retire by then, and will be substituted by new advanced long-haul aircraft. The new fleet will include 18 A350s and 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, along with 26 short-haul aircraft.
