First BA jumbo set for final valedictory retirement flight

Al Bridger, BA director of flight operations, said: “All of us at British Airways and so many of our customers will have fond memories and special moments from our travels on the iconic jumbo jet.

“As a pilot who was lucky enough to fly the aircraft, the sheer scale of it was unforgettable, you literally looked down on other aircraft.

"It changed aviation forever when it arrived in the skies and I know I speak for our customers and the global aviation community when I say, despite rightly moving to more sustainable ways of flying, we will still miss the 747 dearly.”

Jumbos have been an iconic part of BA’s fleet for nearly 50 years; the aircraft completed its first BA flight to New York in 1971, and at one stage, BA was operating 57 jumbos.

However, the thirsty jumbo is being phased out as part of BA’s commitment to reducing emissions and achieving net zero carbon status by 2050, with newer Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s taking over from the jumbo.