The airline, owned by International Consolidated Airlines Group, had originally planned to phase out the “jumbo jet” by 2024. But travel restrictions due to Covid-19 led the company to take action now.
“It is with great sadness that we can confirm we are proposing to retire our entire 747 fleet with immediate effect,” the airline said in an emailed statement to CNBC.
“It is unlikely our magnificent ‘queen of the skies’ will ever operate commercial services for British Airways again due to the downturn in travel caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic.”
It said it would instead operate more flights on “modern, fuel-efficient aircraft” including the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787.
BA started flying the jet back in the early 1970s, and took delivery of its current fleet of 747-400s between 1989 and 1999. At its height, the airline had 57 of the 747s, only surpassed by Japan Airlines, and the planes now reportedly represent approximately 10% of its total fleet. It currently owns 31 of the four-engine craft, with an average age of 23 years.
The news comes after Qantas Airways announced in June that it was retiring its six Boeing 747 planes immediately, six months before initially planned.
More about: British-Airways
-1780923278.jpg&h=190&w=280&zc=1&q=100)
