First Look at British Airways’ BOAC 747

We reported recently that British Airways is painting a number of aircraft in its fleet in retro liveries to mark its 100th anniversary.

Celebrating its heritage in this way is great and lots of people have been talking about it.

The first aircraft to be painted is Boeing 747-400 G-BYGC, which appeared for the first time today wearing the colours of BOAC – British Overseas Airways Corporation – a forerunner to British Airways, which was the first airline to fly the Boeing 747 in Britain.

DUBLIN, IRELAND:
British Airways Boeing 747 G-BYGC goes into a paint bay at Dublin Airport before being resprayed with a BOAC livery as part of the centenary celebrations.
(Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)

BOAC 747
Taken: 18th February 2019
Picture by: Stuart Bailey

BOAC 747
Taken: 18th February 2019
Picture by: Stuart Bailey

Large crowds gathered to see the aircraft arrive at Heathrow as BA100 following a flight from Dublin, where it had been painted at IAC.

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “The enormous interest we’ve had in this project demonstrates the attachment many people have to British Airways’ history. It’s something we are incredibly proud of, so in our centenary year it’s a pleasure to be celebrating our past while also looking to the future. We look forward to many more exciting moments like this as our other aircraft with heritage designs enter service.”

The aircraft’s first revenue flight in this livery is BA117 to New York JFK on 19 February.

The BOAC livery will remain on the Boeing 747 until it retires in 2023, to allow as many customers as possible to have the chance to see it. By this time, British Airways will have retired the majority of its 747 fleet, replacing them with new state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft. This includes taking delivery of 18 A350s and 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the next four years – which feature new cabins and are more environmentally efficient – as well as another 26 short-haul aircraft, all part of the airline’s £6.5bn investment for customers.