Apr 5, 2018, 3:58 am
Last edit by: Globaliser
In April 2018 BA announced that they had started a programme to refurbish the cabins on the Mid-J 747-400 fleet. In January 2020, this programme was completed.
As part of the refurbishment all of the aircraft involved have undergone a basic refresh which consisted of:
* Full aircraft deep clean
* Seats in WT/WTP refurbished with new seat foams and cushions as on Super Hi-J aircraft
9 of the aircraft received an ENHANCED refurbishment to bring the cabin up to the same standard as the Super Hi-J 747-400 fleet. This consisted of what is listed above plus:
* New carpets fitted throughout
* All curtains replaced
* New Panasonic IFE fitted in all classes
Note: It was initially believed that the enhanced refurbishment included LED mood lighting throughout, but this is not the case. All retained standard lighting. There were no plans to install WiFi to any Mid-J configured 747-400 aircraft.
Note: Aircraft that have undergone an ENHANCED refurbishment are shown in red
Aircraft are listed below in the order that they were refurbished and show return to service date, along with retirement date where applicable.
G-CIVU - 11 October 2019
G-BNLY - 24 November 2019
Mid-J 747 Cabin Refresh
Apr 5, 2018, 4:54 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2015
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Surely if the other 7 are being retired early you can remove the Panasonic IFE for reuse or sell-on value!?! If you’re going to the lengths of ripping out the interiors anyway, why not update the IFE? Bizarre!! Someone enlighten me
Apr 5, 2018, 5:00 am
#18
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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You can't in practical terms recycle IFEs, it's expensive to do and they aren't very shiftable. Where would they end up? Deep cleaning happens anyway. Seats are easily recycled / shifted. I would also bet that 2 of the 7 won't get any update at all, given that they will be gone by the end of Summer.
Apr 5, 2018, 5:07 am
#19
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There are 18 mid-Js. G-BNLK and G-BNLP were (on the last information given in the retirements wikipost) the next to leave, in November and December 2018 respectively. It would certainly make little sense to refresh these two aircraft.
The next in the list was G-BNLN in July 2019. If the planned retirement date remains accurate, I would put money on this aircraft not getting the new IFE.
Apr 5, 2018, 5:10 am
#20
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
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You can't in practical terms recycle IFEs, it's expensive to do and they aren't very shiftable. Where would they end up? Deep cleaning happens anyway. Seats are easily recycled / shifted. I would also bet that 2 of the 7 won't get any update at all, given that they will be gone by the end of Summer.
A screen can be reused in many forms, if it’s simply a plugable display, no?! Not to side track the thread of course. 
Apr 5, 2018, 7:45 am
#24
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Apr 5, 2018, 7:54 am
#25
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,468
Yeah, JFK tends to get one or two of these a day. I just realized that my upcoming booking for the summer will be on the mid-J 747...both ways! I guess I didn't notice when booking as the UD seatmap is the same for both types of 747.
Apr 5, 2018, 7:54 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hong Kong
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Posts: 384
I'm impressed it is only taking two and a half weeks to do the more extensive refits and add Panasonic x3 IFE systems etc.
Compared with the near two month overhaul of the first 777 10-abreast in SIN.
This is good news. But as one of the poster people said above, what is the big news coming on April 5?
Compared with the near two month overhaul of the first 777 10-abreast in SIN.
This is good news. But as one of the poster people said above, what is the big news coming on April 5?
Apr 5, 2018, 8:27 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 378
2 aircraft will be retired during 2018
3 aircraft will be retired during 2019
4 aircraft will be retired during by May 2020.
Apr 5, 2018, 8:50 am
#28
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Apr 5, 2018, 8:55 am
#29
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