LONDON: British Airways retired its Boeing 747 jumbo jets on Friday, hastening its withdrawal of the aging plane after the coronavirus pandemic crushed demand for air travel and carriers began switching to greener jets.

The BA’s parent group, IAG, which had already decided to phase out the iconic aircraft by 2024, said in a statement that the entire fleet had been retired “with immediate effect” owing to “the downturn in travel caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic”.

The airline will operate more flights on modern fuel-efficient aircraft such as Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, as it seeks to both slash costs and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The carrier has 31 Boeing jumbos, more than any other airline, while the dwindling number of airlines continuing to fly the 747 include Air India, Korean Air and Lufthansa.

In Australia, Qantas carried out a farewell flight for its last remaining 747.

‘Heart-breaking decision

“This is not how we wanted or expected to have to say goodbye to our incredible fleet of 747 aircraft. It is a heart-breaking decision to have to make,” said BA Chief Executive Alex Cruz.

“We have committed to making our fleet more environmentally friendly as we look to reduce the size of our business to reflect the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on aviation. As painful as it is, this is the most logical thing for us to propose.”

US aerospace titan Boeing launched the 747 in 1970, with the 400-seater jet dominating international air travel and cargo over the following decades.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2020