The BOAC 747 was the first aircraft to feature a popular British Airways historical design
British Airways stated on January 21, 2019, that a Boeing 747 was painted in the loved design of its forebear British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in celebration of the airline’s 100th birthday.
A B747 with the registration G-BYGC was painted in the livery used from 1964 to 1974 by BOAC. On February 18, the aircraft departed from the paint shop in Dublin and make its way to Heathrow before going into service the following day. Just a few days before, the inaugural Boeing 747 flight celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The BOAC 747 was the first aircraft to use a loved design from British Airways’ past; further information about additional designs will be made public when available. As part of the airline’s centenary celebrations, retro liveries were applied on aircraft flying British Airways routes, proudly showing some of the iconic designs.
All incoming aircraft, including the A350, will maintain the current favored Chatham Dockyard design.
Alex Cruz, British Airways Chairman, and CEO 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.”
As a later model of the same aircraft type that adorned the design when it was first in use, the 747 has been purposefully chosen for the BOAC livery.
The Boeing 747 will carry the BOAC livery until it is retired in 2023. British Airways will have replaced the majority of its 747 fleets by this point with brand-new, cutting-edge long-haul aircraft. In the next four years, the airline will take delivery of 18 A350s, 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and another 26 short-haul aircraft as part of its £6.5 billion investment in its passengers. These aircraft have new cabins and are more environmentally efficient.
Photo by British Airways