Feature
With this month’s announcements that two ex-BA jumbos are due to be saved from the scrapheap, Key Aero wanted to find out what happened to the rest of the flag carrier’s near 100-strong fleet
British Airways had a long and prosperous relationship with the Boeing 747 which lasted more than half a century.
However, in July this year – owing to the COVID-19 pandemic – its love affair with the jumbo was cut short when it revealed that its remaining 31 widebodies would be retired with immediate effect.
Between April 22, 1970, and June 2, 2020, the UK flag carrier operated a total of 94 Boeing 747s including the original -100 variant and subsequent -200 and -400 models.
The Heathrow-based airline managed the second largest fleet of the type behind Japan Airlines, who over the years, has flown 114 examples. In the period before the UK flag carrier retired its remaining 31 airframes, it was the world’s biggest operator of the aircraft.
Having flown more than 90 examples over a 50-year period, what happened to all the airframes? Well as of this month, we now know that at least two examples will be preserved and used for other purposes.
At Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, G-CIVB (c/n 25811) the Negus retro scheme -400 example is due to be maintained for events, tours, a cinema, and education centre while at Dunsfold Aerodrome G-CIVW (c/n 25822) is set to be used as a film set and training facility.
But what about the others? Key.Aero has tracked them all down and compiled the data into a handy table. Enjoy!
| Reg’n |
Delivered |
Retired |
Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 747-100 | |||
| G-AWNA |
April 22, 1970 |
Oct 31, 1998 |
Scrapped Bruntingthorpe 11/98 |
| G-AWNB |
May 22, 1970 |
Aug 30, 1998 |
Scrapped Roswell 09/1998 |
| G-AWNC |
June 29, 1970 |
Nov 29, 1999 |
To Air Gulf Falcon as P4-GFA, later 3D-GFA. Scrapped Pinal Air Park 2005 |
| G-AWND |
Feb 28, 1971 |
Aug 2, 1990 |
Captured by Iraqi forces invading Kuwait on 2/8/90. Destroyed 27/02/1991 during Iraqi retreat. |
| G-AWNE |
Mar 5, 1971 |
Dec 1, 1999 |
To Kabo Air as 5N-RRR, stored Kano/Mallam Aminu |
| G-AWNF |
Mar 14, 1971 |
Nov 17, 1999 |
To Kabo Air as 5N-JJJ, stored Kano/Mallam Aminu |
| G-AWNG |
Sept 8, 1971 |
Dec 2, 1998 |
Scrapped Roswell 12/98 |
| G-AWNH |
Nov 23, 1971 |
June 2, 1999 |
To US FAA for use as Airworthiness Assurance Nondestructive Inspection Validation Center testbed. Scrapped 2014. |
| G-AWNI |
Jan 7, 1972 |
Mar 25, 1981 |
To Trans World Airlines as N17125. To Tower Air as N605FF. Written off at New York/JFK 20/12/1995 |
| G-AWNJ |
Mar 21, 1972 |
Nov 30, 1998 |
Scrapped Roswell 12/1998 |
| G-AWNK |
Mar 24, 1972 |
Mar 30, 1981 |
To Trans World Airlines as N17126. To Tower Air as N606FF. Scrapped Victorville 01/2003 |
| G-AWNL |
Apr 19, 1972 |
Oct 29, 1998 |
Scrapped Roswell 11/1998 |
| G-AWNM |
May 3, 1973 |
Oct 31, 1999 |
Scrapped Roswell 12/1999 |
| G-AWNN |
Nov 7, 1973 |
May 3, 1999 |
Scrapped Roswell 03/1999 |
| G-AWNO |
Dec 7, 1973 |
Oct 31, 1999 |
Scrapped Roswell 12/1999 |
| G-AWNP |
Nov 6, 1974 |
Jan 31, 2000 |
To Kabo Air as 5N-OOO, stored Kano/Mallam Aminu |
| G-BBPU |
Mar 14, 1975 |
Nov 26, 1999 |
To Air Gulf Falcon as P4-GFB, later 3C-GFB. To Spirit of Africa; scrapped Sharjah 2005 |
| G-BDPV |
Apr 8, 1976 |
June 18, 1999 |
Scrapped Roswell 06/1999 |
| G-BDPZ |
Apr 1, 1976 |
Oct 27, 1978 |
Leased from Aer Lingus on two occasions. Returned as EI-ASJ; to Kabo Air as 5N-AAA. Scrapped Roswell 2006 |
| Feb 2, 1979 |
May 6, 1981 |
||
| Boeing 747-200 | |||
| G-BDXA |
July 27, 1977 |
Jan 23, 2001 |
Scrapped Pinal Air Park 02/2001 |
| G-BDXB |
June 16, 1977 |
Oct 1, 2001 |
To Xiamen/Gaoqi as an instructional airframe |
| G-BDXC |
June 22, 1977 |
Mar 8, 2002 |
To European Air Charter. Scrapped Cardiff 08/2002 |
| G-BDXD |
Apr 4, 1978 |
Dec 5, 1999 |
Scrapped Roswell 12/1999 |
| G-BDXE |
Mar 27, 1978 |
Jan 11, 2002 |
To European Air Charter. Scrapped Kemble 10/2007 |
| G-BDXF |
Apr 24, 1978 |
May 23, 2002 |
To European Air Charter. Scrapped Kemble 09/2006 |
| G-BDXG |
June 16, 1978 |
Feb 7, 2002 |
To European Air Charter. Scrapped Bournemouth 05/2008 |
| G-BDXH |
Mar 27, 1979 |
Jan 20, 2002 |
To European Air Charter. Scrapped Bournemouth 07/2009 |
| G-BDXI |
Mar 5, 1980 |
May 21, 2003 |
Scrapped Cardiff 05/2003 |
| G-BDXJ |
May 2, 1980 |
Mar 10, 2002 |
To European Charter. To Aces High for film use at Dunsfold |
| G-BDXK |
Mar 30, 1983 |
Oct 4, 2002 |
To Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ARG. Scrapped Kemble 2007 |
| G-BDXL |
Feb 9, 1984 |
Oct 4, 2002 |
Leased to British Airtours 19/03/84-31/10/84. To Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ARF. Scrapped Pinal Air Park 08/2008 |
| G-BDXM |
Feb 25, 1987 |
Apr 30, 2001 |
To Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ATX To MK Airlines as G-MKLA. To The Cargo Airlines as 4L-GEO |
| G-BDXN |
Mar 17, 1987 |
Apr 4, 2003 |
To Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ARJ. Stored Pinal Air Park 2012-2019. To Geo-Sky as 4L-GEN |
| G-BDXO |
Apr 23, 1987 |
Mar 18, 2003 |
To European Air Charter. Scrapped Amsterdam/Schiphol 11/2005 |
| G-BDXP |
Feb 24, 1988 |
July 25, 2001 |
To Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ATZ, op for MASKargo. Scrapped Subang 2013. |
| G-BJXN |
Apr 14, 1988 |
May 31, 1990 |
Ex Lufthansa, Braniff International, British Caledonian. To Continental Airlines as N78019. To Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ATA. To Logistic Air as 5U-ACE. Stored Roswell 11/2007 Still present 12/2019 |
| G-BLVE |
Apr 29, 1985 |
Apr 24, 1990 |
Leased from Middle East Airlines, returned as N202AE, later OD-AGH. To American International Airways as N710CK, to Kitty Hawk International, to Kalitta Air. Scrapped Oscoda, Michigan date unk |
| G-BLVF |
Nov 1, 1985 |
June 22, 1990 |
Sub-leased from Middle East Airlines, returned as N203AE; to Kalitta Air as N712CK. To Dubai Air Wing as A6-GDP. Scrapped Kemble 05/2010 |
| G-BMGS |
Mar 5, 1986 |
Feb 2, 1990 |
Ex Scandinavian Airlines. To Virgin Atlantic Airways as G-VOYG; scrapped Kemble 01/1999 |
| G-CITB |
Apr 14, 1988 |
Nov 15, 1990 |
Ex Royal Jordanian, British Caledonian. To All Nippon Airways as JA8192. To Jett8 Airlines Cargo as 9V-JEA. Scrapped Singapore 04/2015 |
| G-GLYN |
Oct 1, 1986 |
Apr 14, 1988 |
Ex Wardair Canada. To Philippine Airlines as RP-C8850. Scrapped Pinal Air Park 2007 |
| G-HUGE |
Apr 14, 1988 |
Nov 5, 1990 |
To Cargolux as LX-ZCV; to Atlas Air as N506MC. Scrapped Roswell 01/2009 |
| G-KILO |
Sept 30, 1980 |
Mar 15, 1982 |
To Cathay Pacific as VR-HVY, later B-HVY. Scrapped Kemble 10/2008 |
| G-NIGB |
Apr 14, 1988 |
Feb 11, 1991 |
Ex Wardair Canada, British Caledonian Airways. To Philippine Airlines as RP-C8830. Scrapped Pinal Air Park 03/2006 |
| Boeing 747-400 | |||
| G-BNLA |
Jun 30, 1989 |
Oct 26, 2009 |
Scrapped Victorville 12/2018 |
| G-BNLB |
July 31, 1989 |
Nov 3, 2008 |
Scrapped Cardiff 12/2011 |
| G-BNLC |
July 21, 1989 |
Oct 29, 2008 |
Scrapped Cardiff 11/2011 |
| G-BNLD |
Sept 5, 1989 |
Feb 6, 2010 |
Scrapped Victorville 10/2019 |
| G-BNLE |
Nov 15, 1989 |
Oct 30, 2014 |
Stored Victorville 11/2014, still present 05/2020 |
| G-BNLF |
Feb 28, 1990 |
Mar 26, 2016 |
Scrapped Teruel 05/2016 |
| G-BNLG |
Feb 27, 1990 |
Dec 7, 2014 |
Stored Victorville 12/2014, still present 08/2019 |
| G-BNLH |
Mar 28, 1990 |
Sept 29, 2009 |
Scrapped Victorville 03/2019 |
| G-BNLI |
Apr 21, 1990 |
Aug 11, 2014 |
Scrapped Victorville 04/2018 |
| G-BNLJ |
May 23, 1990 |
Oct 1, 2016 |
Scrapped Teruel 06/2018 |
| G-BNLK |
May 25, 1990 |
Jan 14, 2019 |
Scrapped St Athan 05/2019 |
| G-BNLM |
Jun 28, 1990 |
Nov 27, 2013 |
Scrapped Victorville 02/2018 |
| G-BNLN |
Jul 27, 1990 |
Jun 21, 2019 |
Scrapped St Athan 03/2020 |
| G-BNLO |
Oct 25, 1990 |
Mar 11, 2017 |
Scrapped Teruel 12/2018 |
| G-BNLP |
Dec 17, 1990 |
Dec 3, 2018 |
Scrapped St Athan 08/2019 |
| G-BNLR |
Jan 15, 1991 |
Jan 16, 2014 |
Scrapped Victorville 02/2018 |
| G-BNLS |
Mar 13, 1991 |
May 11, 2014 |
Scrapped Victorville 10/2018 |
| G-BNLT |
Mar 19, 1991 |
Apr 1, 2014 |
Scrapped Victorville 02/2018 |
| G-BNLU |
Jan 28, 1992 |
Oct 4, 2014 |
Scrapped Victorville 11/2018 |
| G-BNLV |
Feb 20, 1992 |
Jul 31, 2016 |
Scrapped Teruel 2017 |
| G-BNLW |
Mar 5, 1992 |
Nov 5, 2015 |
Scrapped Kemble 07/2016 |
| G-BNLX |
Apr 3, 1992 |
Nov 5, 2015 |
Scrapped St Athan 12/2017 |
| G-BNLY |
Feb 10, 1993 |
Mar 23, 2020 |
Landor 1984-1997 livery; stored Cardiff 06/2020 |
| G-BNLZ |
Mar 4, 1993 |
Mar 31, 2015 |
Scrapped Kemble 2016 |
| G-BYGA |
Dec 14, 1998 |
Mar 21, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 03/2020 Stored Kemble 09/2020 |
| G-BYGB |
Jan 17, 1999 |
Mar 21, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 03/2020 Stored Kemble 09/2020 |
| G-BYGC |
Jan 19, 1999 |
Apr 5, 2020 |
BOAC 1964-1974 livery; stored Cardiff 06/2020 |
| G-BYGD |
Jan 26, 1999 |
Mar 16, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 03/2020 |
| G-BYGE |
Feb 5, 1999 |
Mar 23, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 03/2020 Stored Kemble 09/2020 |
| G-BYGG |
Apr 29, 1999 |
Apr 3, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 06/2020 |
| G-CIVA |
Mar 22, 1993 |
Mar 28, 2020 |
Stored Teruel 04/2020 |
| G-CIVB |
Feb 15, 1994 |
Apr 6, 2020 |
Negus 1974-1984 livery; stored London Heathrow 04/2020. Preserved at Kemble for events, tours, a cinema, and education centre 10/2020 |
| G-CIVC |
Feb 26, 1994 |
Mar 28, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 06/2020 |
| G-CIVF |
Mar 29, 1995 |
Apr 6, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 06/2020 Stored a Newquay 10/2020 |
| G-CIVG |
Apr 20, 1995 |
Nov 17, 2019 |
Scrapped St Athan 07/2020 |
| G-CIVJ |
Feb 11, 1997 |
Apr 6, 2020 |
Stored Kemble 04/2020 |
| G-CIVL |
Mar 28, 1997 |
Mar 26, 2020 |
Stored Kemble 04/2020 |
| G-CIVM |
Jun 5, 1997 |
Mar 16, 2020 |
Stored St Athan 03/2020 Scrapped St Athan 09/2020 |
| G-CIVN |
Sept 29, 1997 |
Mar 26, 2020 |
Stored Kemble 04/2020 |
| G-CIVO |
Dec 5, 1997 |
Jun 2, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 06/2020 Stored Kemble 09/2020 |
| G-CIVR |
Mar 2, 1998 |
Mar 20, 2020 |
Stored Teruel 03/2020 |
| G-CIVS |
Mar 13, 1998 |
Mar 29, 2020 |
Stored Teruel 04/2020 |
| G-CIVT |
Mar 20, 1998 |
Feb 28, 2020 |
Stored Teruel 04/2020 |
| G-CIVU |
Apr 24, 1998 |
Mar 27, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 06/2020 |
| G-CIVV |
May 22, 1998 |
Mar 23, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 03/2020 Stored Castellón 09/2020 |
| G-CIVW |
May 15, 1998 |
Mar 29, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 06/2020 Preserved at Dunsfold Aerodrome for use as a film set and training facility 10/2020 |
| G-CIVX |
Sept 3, 1998 |
Mar 19, 2020 |
Stored Teruel 04/2020 |
| G-CIVZ |
Oct 31, 1998 |
Mar 17, 2020 |
Stored Cardiff 03/2020 Stored Newquay 10/2020 |
