NEWS: BA’s final B747 Heathrow flights Thursday with flypast & sneak peak at BA new First on B777

BA’s final B747 Heathrow flights Thursday flypast

British Airways has announced that its final two Heathrow based Boeing 747 aircraft are scheduled to depart from the airport for the very last time tomorrow morning (Thursday 8 October). One aircraft is painted in its heritage ‘Negus’ livery and the other in its current Chatham Dockyard livery.

Thousands of British Airways flight crew, cabin crew and engineering teams have worked over several decades on and with the aircraft during their time at British Airways during a period when they represented the heart of the airline’s long-haul fleet. 

To commemorate G-CIVB and G-CIVY’s final take-off from the airport at 08:30am, the airline has arranged a special send-off with a unique and rarely seen synchronised dual take off on parallel runways*, which will be followed by flypast along the southerly runway by one of the aircraft (G-CIVY in current BA livery) as it bids its home a final farewell.

Celebrating the occasion in a virtual way to keep spectators safe, the airline will be live streaming moments from the departure on its Facebook page and is also inviting its colleagues, aviation enthusiasts, and customers to share any special memories or photos of British Airways’ 747s on social media channels at 7:47am and 7.47pm on their departure day using the hashtag #BA747farewell.

Paul, Marek and I will be at different vantage points tomorrow to watch the take-off and fly past. So keep an eye on our social media as we will be posting exclusive photos and videos as it happens. 

Here are some photos of the aircraft’s final day at Heathrow as they prepare for their final take-offs.

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said “Tomorrow will be a difficult day for everybody at British Airways as the aircraft leaves our home at Heathrow for the very last time. We will pay tribute to them for the incredible part they have played in our 100-year history and to the millions of customers and BA colleagues who have flown on board and taken care of them.

“We hope that Britain will join us in sharing their memories with us on social media at 7:47am and 7.47pm on Thursday using #BA747farewell.”

*The flypast and take-offs are subject to the weather so fingers crossed!

It is rumoured that British Airways will spare G-CVIB from the giant runway in the sky. It could instead be preserved at Cotswold Airport in Kemble, Gloucestershire but BA are yet to confirm this. British Airways expects the last 747s (currently positioned in Wales) to leave the fleet by the end of the year.

Sadly there will be no drawings in the sky like the Qantas kangaroo.

British Airways 747 G-CIVB

British Airways 747 G-CIVY

Sneak peak at BA new First Suite with doors on new B777-300

We are still waiting for some more comprehensive official photos from BA but in the meantime here are a few photos posted on Twitter. Apart from the doors and the colour of the seat which appears paler, the only difference I can see is that the remote control handset has been moved to a better position. Previously it was in the storage compartment which made it a bit fiddly. 

A few quick snaps of the new/updated F seat on G-STBM pic.twitter.com/AvYbmqn6M2

— N (@Planenews_777) October 7, 2020