The British Airways Boeing 747 fleet was forced into retirement after the Coronavirus pandemic and now the jumbo jets are now sitting pretty in the Cotswolds.
A fascinating Boeing 747 graveyard sits slap-bang in the middle of one of the UK’s most beautiful regions. Dozens of British Airways planes, forced into retirement after the pandemic, sit in what has been aptly named a plane graveyard in the Cotswolds. This unexpected turn of events has transformed the picturesque Cotswolds, famed for its tranquil countryside and quaint villages, into an unlikely resting place for these majestic aircrafts.
BA had previously shared news of its jumbo jet fleet’s fate in 2020: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm that we are proposing to retire our entire 747 fleet with immediate effect.” The airline declared the end of an era for their 747 jets amid the travel slump driven by the Coronavirus crisis: “It is unlikely our magnificent ‘queen of the skies’ will ever operate commercial services for British Airways again due to the downturn in travel caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic.”
Now, in the rolling hills of Gloucestershire’s Cotswold Airport, these jumbo jets create a surreal juxtaposition against the rural backdrop, as captured in a recent video on X. Yet, not all these planes are destined to decay; one particular jet, affectionately known as Negus and revered by aviation buffs, has been repurposed into a unique event venue.
This transformation is part of the British Airways’ centenary celebrations, which saw three aircrafts adorned in its heritage colours, just a year before the decision to retire the entire 747 fleet of 31 planes. Negus made its final touchdown at Cotswold Airport in October 2020, undergoing modifications such as rewiring for mains power and the addition of an audio-visual system suitable for hosting events.
Cotswold Airport shared: “Work began upon her arrival at Cotswold Airport to transform the Economy cabin (World Traveler) into an exclusive events space, complete with Chauvet and L’acoustic products.”
The transformation journey wasn’t a quick task, but the graft was worth it. The venue now boasts versatility and splendour ready to accommodate a slew of events from nuptials to business gatherings.
British Airways’ decision was also influenced by its aim to steer the company toward greener horizons: “While the aircraft will always have a special place in our heart, as we head into the future, we will be operating more flights on modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, such as our new A350s and 787s, to help us achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
