British Airways 747 in Landor livery arrives at London Heathrow on 09 March 2019. (Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

British Airways’ iconic Boeing 747, registration G-CIVB, will be permanently retired at Cotswold Airport, near Kemble in Gloucestershire, the airline announced today. Cotswold Airport will be the permanent home for the aircraft for locals and visitors to enjoy. The aircraft is painted in the unique Negus livery which adorned British Airways planes in the 1970s and 1980s.   BA bid farewell to its final 747 aircraft on October 8 as the airline is retiring  its entire fleet of 747 planes, fondly known as ‘The Queen of the Skies’, after nearly 50 years of service as the airline suffers a severe travel downturn amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  The airport will maintain the aircraft and plans to convert an area of its interior to be used as a unique business, conferencing and private hire venue, as well as a cinema for locals and an educational facility for school trips. It is planned that the aircraft will be open to the public from Spring 2021.

“It is great news for locals and visitors who will be able to see and experience one of the most iconic passenger aircraft of its time. We’re absolutely delighted to make this happen following its final flight from London Heathrow to Cotswold Airport on 8 October.”

-Suzannah Harvey, CEO of Cotswold Airport, said

British Airways 747 at Cotswold Airport /  (credit: Neil Porter@cotswoldairport)

Since entering the British Airways fleet on 15 February, 1994, G-CIVB operated 13,398 flights and flew for 118,445 hours over nearly 60 million miles. Its last passenger flight was from Miami to Heathrow on 6 April, 2020.

Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways, said:

“It was with great sadness that we retired our two final 747s based at Heathrow earlier this month, so we’re glad Cotswold Airport is able to give one of these aircraft a new home and a new lease of life. The 747, and the Negus livery, are iconic in British Airways’ past, and we hope locals and visitors will enjoy seeing this slice of history for years to come.”

A large percentage of all money raised from events on the aircraft will be used to support Cotswold Airport’s scholarship programme and charities.

British Airways’ last Boeing 747 departs for Final Time

BRITISH AIRWAYS Negus 747 LAST EVER LANDING: FINAL TOUCHDOWN & SENDOFF – Kemble (Cotswold Airport) Oct. 08, 2020.