BRITISH AIRWAYS NEGUS LIVERY FLIES TODAY
Today British Airways completed their series of heritage liveries with arrival at Heathrow of a Negus painted Boeing 747-400.
The airline celebrating a 100 years of air travel using a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) liveried Boeing 747, a British European Airways (BEA) Airbus 319 and a British Airways Landor 747 all now flying on their European or their long haul international routes.
Cabin crew dressed in uniforms of the period they are Elysa Marsden, left and Olivia Welch.
Carrying the Negus livery which adorned the British Airways fleet from 1974-1980, directly after the merger of BOAC and BEA and the formation of the airline that customers know today.
The 747-400 carries the registration of G-CIVB and will re-enter service later today flying straight off to South Africa after the arrival ceremony at Heathrow. It will fly on the airline’s long haul routes and will continue in service until 2022.
Arrival at Heathrow of the retro ‘Negus’ livery painted onto a British Airways 747 (Jumbo jet). It was used by the airline from 1974 to 1980.
When it initially flew, the Negus livery was the first time an aircraft had carried “British Airways“ since 1939, when the original British Airways Limited merged with Imperial Airways to form BOAC.
Interestingly, the Union Flag (Union Jack) was not present on the side of the aircraft as, like the final BEA aircraft livery, the flag began to be fully celebrated on the aircraft’s tailfin instead.
The last of four planes painted in retro paint schemes by British Airways to celebrate their 100 years of flying.
This special series of designs have been introduced to mark British Airways’ centenary, as the airline celebrates its past while looking to the future. Alongside the heritage liveries, all new aircraft entering the fleet, including the A350, will continue to receive today’s Chatham Dockyard design.
The’Negus’ livery painted onto a British Airways 747 (Jumbo jet). It was used by the airline from 1974 to 1980. Note lower case ‘a’!
Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “Rumours have been circulating for quite some time about this final livery, so it’s exciting to confirm it is the Negus design. It’s particularly significant for us because it’s the first design worn by the British Airways that we all know today, with the distinctive lower case ‘a’ and the Union Flag on the tailfin.”
