British Airways has unveiled a Boeing 747-400 in the livery of the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as part of celebrations for the airline’s centenary.
The aircraft, G-BYGC, landed at London Heathrow Airport on Monday (UK time) featuring the distinctive BOAC livery that flew between 1964 and 1974.
The 747-400 had been at the International Airlines Group (IAG) paintshop in Dublin, Ireland since February 5 being repainted.
Ready for takeoff and looking fine @DublinAirport #BOAC 747. Get ready @HeathrowAirport you’re in for a treat. #BA100 #avgeek @British_Airways. pic.twitter.com/kDY1LuWvpY
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) February 18, 2019
It's been over 40 years since any of our 747s wore this livery, @BoeingAirplanes how does she look? #BOAC #BA100 pic.twitter.com/Z8WbNSbi85
— British Airways (@British_Airways) February 18, 2019
British Airways chairman and chief executive Alex Cruz said the general public had shown great interest in the retrojet.
“This project demonstrates the attachment many people have to British Airways’ history,” Cruz said in a statement.
“It’s something we are incredibly proud of, so in our centenary year it’s a pleasure to be celebrating our past while also looking to the future.” [vc_gallery interval=”0″ images=”69485,69486,69489,69488″ img_size=”750×420″ title=”More images of British Airways’ BOAC Boeing 747-400 (images from British Airways)”]
The aircraft will resume revenue service on Tuesday, when it operates the BA117 from London Heathrow to New York JFK.
British Airways noted the first route for its 747 fleet in BOAC colours was Heathrow to JFK.
The initial schedule of G-BYGC from the BA retrojets Twitter page.
Provisional first visit to Lagos on Thursday for BOAC retrojet G-BYGC pic.twitter.com/rpgHLpHUDj
— BAretrojets (@BAretrojets) February 18, 2019
The day has finally arrived. Back in February 1977 the last BOAC Speedbird tail, on B747-136 G-AWNC, entered the paint shop in TBK at LHR to be stripped and repainted in British Airways colours. Today, 42 years later, BOAC returns to the skies on B747-436 G-BYGC pic.twitter.com/sRYxLIvpJc
— BAretrojets (@BAretrojets) February 18, 2019
Further, the 747-400 G-BYGC will keep its BOAC livery until the aircraft was scheduled to be retired in 2023.
“By this time, British Airways will have retired the majority of its 747 fleet, replacing them with new state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft,” the airline said.
A look at the flight deck of G-BYGC from the Longhaul & Lunges Twitter page.
On board G-BYGC! Some facts and figures! Turn it up to hear me over the noise!#BASMART #BA100 @British_Airways pic.twitter.com/QiQncTfx9K
— shesgotwings777 (@shesgotwings777) February 18, 2019
British Airways said G-BYGC was one of a number of retro liveries to be unveiled during the course of the airline’s centenary year celebrations.
Although British Airways is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2019, it has not been known by that name throughout the the past 100 years.
It started flying in August 1919 as Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T). Since then, it has been merged, nationalised and then privatised.
Airlines that are part of the airline’s history include names such as Instone, Handley Page, Daimler Airways, British Air Marine Navigation Company Limited, Imperial Airways Limited, British Airways, BOAC and British European Airways (BEA).
The current British Airways is the merger of BOAC and BEA that was completed in 1974.
The oldest airline in the world is KLM, which was operated under it original name since it was set up in 1919.
Colombia’s Avianca, also established in 1919, is next on the list, followed by Qantas, which was founded in November 1920 in outback Queensland.
VIDEO: A look at the British Airways’ unveiling of its retro Boeing 747-400 in BOAC livery from the FlightGlobal YouTube channel.
