BA to retire entire B747 fleet
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,986
Any income from a farewell flight would likely not cover the cost to bring the 747 back into service and operate the flight. Good PR amongst the aviation community would have to be weighed up with negative PR amongst the sustainability community.
QF have retired the B747's without any fanfare. The last QF B747 is due to go to desert 30 June
Last ever QF pax flight on a 747
QF6001 744 to MHV multiple times.
https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...ng-747-retired
https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...747-retirement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._747_operators
https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...747-retirement
#17
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: BA gold
Posts: 62
Disappointed but not surprised. Was lucky enough to have flown in all of the series except the SP and thought she really was the queen of the skies. Certainly I had better flights on her than most other types including the pointed nosed beastie, although they were good! We had 1a and1k cancelled in April due to the virus and our booking in the same seat numbers in September were changed to a 777 so I feared that we may have seen the last of her then. I saw the first Pan Am 100 series land at Heathrow many years ago and have since flown many hours as a pax in them. Thanks old lady, you never let me down and I will always remember you with affection.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,224
This would make me very sad. I thoroughly enjoying flying aboard the 747-400. I already have a fair few trips for later this year and next year planned that involve the 747 and they won't be the same on a 777 etc.
#19
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,747
I have two BA 747 pilot friends. I know they are both worried for their jobs. One is old enough to be properly concerned.
Always loved boarding a 747. Had my first ever upgrade on one of those too, all the way to CPT on the top deck. One of the finest aircraft ever built in my very humble opinion.
Always loved boarding a 747. Had my first ever upgrade on one of those too, all the way to CPT on the top deck. One of the finest aircraft ever built in my very humble opinion.
#20
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: BAEC Blue, Flying Blue Silver, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold
Posts: 817
Happy i got my 5 flights in however.
#22
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 1,916
I think given we are half way through 2020 and there is virtually no sign of the demand (flights loads are non existent - even for a 787 or 777-200) and there are new frames coming (more 777-300's and the 787-10 etc) I think they have gone for good. To bring them back for at most 3 years is not going to be worth it.
As for nostalgia - money talks and it makes zero sense to indulge in it when most airlines will have the fight of their lives for survival over the next few years........
Sad - there was something very enigmatic for me about 2K but that is regrettably the way it is.....
FD.
As for nostalgia - money talks and it makes zero sense to indulge in it when most airlines will have the fight of their lives for survival over the next few years........
Sad - there was something very enigmatic for me about 2K but that is regrettably the way it is.....
FD.
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC, AA, Emirates, Hilton, Hyatt, Taj Hotels
Posts: 2,339
What a shame. My first 747 flight was on 05 August 1972 on BOAC's GAWN-J and I was very much hoping to do a 50th Anniversary flight in 2022 - ideally in 1A/K. Gutted.
#24
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Seattle, Wash. USA
Posts: 1,531
The 747 handles turbulence much better than that.
#25
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Are we sure demand won't pick up for 2 years? I mean I booked a few flights today for a few weeks down the road and they were all pretty much fully booked, so much so that in Business Class all window seats were full and I had to do aisle!
I think we need to be more optimistic than that, at least in the medium term.
If demand picks up, does BA need to retire it's 747's? I mean they are all paid for no? Might as well run them to the ground or at least before a major overhaul and just retire them then.
I think we need to be more optimistic than that, at least in the medium term.
If demand picks up, does BA need to retire it's 747's? I mean they are all paid for no? Might as well run them to the ground or at least before a major overhaul and just retire them then.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 127
My family travelled home on the 747 from LAX on 20th March, just 3 days before lockdown, we were on the later A380 flight.
It was a perfect clear afternoon and we got some excellent photos of the aircraft taxiing and takeoff from the deserted terrace at the H Hotel LAX.
I remember thinking this may be their last journey on the 747 and I think I may be correct.
So wish now we had booked the 747 for that journey.
It was a perfect clear afternoon and we got some excellent photos of the aircraft taxiing and takeoff from the deserted terrace at the H Hotel LAX.
I remember thinking this may be their last journey on the 747 and I think I may be correct.
So wish now we had booked the 747 for that journey.
#29
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Newcastle, England
Programs: BAEC, Flying Blue
Posts: 105
I hope he's never on a domestic flight that I'm on, I'll be certain to make enquiries as to why this is necessary! As for the 747's I'd love a last trip on one!