Out and about, without a grace period: British Airways is separating from all of its Boeing 747s with immediate effect. Commercial flights are no longer taking place with the Jumbo Jets.
British Airways is actually proud of the Queen of the Skies. So proud that you three Boeing 747s in a special livery for the 100th anniversary missed. Because the jumbo jet played an important role in the airline’s fleet: with currently 28 units, British Airways has the largest Boeing 747 fleet in the world after Lufthansa. But then the corona crisis came.
The demand for flights has dropped so much that British Airways parent IAG has revised its fleet planning. And the Boeing 747 has no more space. In a message to the crews, which is available from aeroTELEGRAPH, it says: “We are extremely sorry that we are proposing to shut down the entire Boeing 747 fleet with immediate effect.”
“A jet from another era”
Before the decision is final, management has to speak to the unions. Because: Many jobs of pilots hang on the jumbo jets. It is questionable whether all jobs will be retained. The airline announced earlier because of the Corona crisis, at least 12,000 jobs to delete.
It breaks the heart of everyone who has seen the iconic airplane fly for decades, the letter continues. But the Boeing 747 is “a jet from another era”. In fact, British Airways’ youngest 747 is more than 20 years old. Most of the planes should have retired anyway by 2024.
No more commercial flights
Now the Boeing 747 at British Airways is definitely over. After the relevant consultations, the plan was to take out all the aircraft as soon as possible. “There are no more commercial flights,” it continues.
Whether this means that – unlike other airlines – there will be no farewell flights remains to be seen. But given the economy that the parent company IAG is pursuing, this is quite conceivable.
Not the only airline
British Airways is no exception. KLM has its Boeing 747 because of the corona crisis decommissioned earlier than planned, Qantas and Corsair did the same.
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