This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
On July 19, 2020, British Airways made the decision to retire its entire Boeing 747 fleet in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly impacted the airline industry.
The airline's spokesperson stated that it is unlikely the 747s will ever operate commercial services for the company again, due to the downturn in travel caused by the global pandemic.
British Airways had initially planned to retire the planes in 2024, but the pandemic accelerated the process, with the airline opting to operate more fuel-efficient planes like the Airbus A350 and the 787 Dreamliner.
The decision to retire the 747s may have been driven by the need to cut costs, as the airline moves from the less fuel-efficient four-engine aircraft to fuel-efficient twin engines, according to the BBC.
This move follows similar decisions by other airlines, including Delta Air Lines, which opted to retire its entire 18 Boeing 777 fleet permanently in May, and Air Canada, which retired its Boeing 767s in June.
