It has been announced by British Airways and Cotswold Airport that British Airways Boeing 747-400 G-CIVB “Negus” will be preserved permanently at Cotswold Airport for locals and visitors to enjoy.
The British Airways aircraft registration G-CIVB, will be permanently retired at Cotswold Airport, located near the village of Kemble in Gloucestershire. The aircraft is painted in the unique Negus livery which adorned British Airways planes in the 1970s and 1980s, the aircraft was one of four painted in retro liveries to mark British Airways centenary held last year. The aircraft was also one of the final two British Airways Boeing 747s to leave London Heathrow last month.
Cotswold Airport will maintain the aircraft and has big plans to convert an area of its interior to be used as a unique business, conferencing and private hire venue, there will also be a cinema for locals and an educational facility for school trips. It is planned that the aircraft will be open to the public from Spring 2021.
Suzannah Harvey, CEO of Cotswold Airport, said: It is great news for locals and visitors who will be able to see and experience one of the most iconic passenger aircraft of its time. We are absolutely delighted to make this happen following its final flight from London Heathrow to Cotswold Airport on 8 October.
Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways, said: It was with great sadness that we retired our two final 747s based at Heathrow earlier this month, so we are glad Cotswold Airport is able to give one of these aircraft a new home and a new lease of life. The 747, and the Negus livery, are iconic in British Airways past, and we hope locals and visitors will enjoy seeing this slice of history for years to come.
Since entering the British Airways fleet on 15 February, 1994, G-CIVB operated 13,398 flights and flew for 118,445 hours over nearly 60 million miles. Its last passenger flight was from Miami to Heathrow on 6 April, 2020.A large percentage of all money raised from events on the aircraft will be used to support Cotswold Airports scholarship programme and charities. Every year the scholarship helps 10 students who have an interest in aviation related sectors or careers to undertake instructional flight time or experience various aviation career environments. This programme gives the students a fabulous insight, and many have gone on to careers in the Navy and RAF.
Simon has been writing aviation articles for nearly 10 years and is the senior article writer at Fresh Aviation, with a background in aviation and a commercial pilot Simon knows his stuff in the aviation world. Simon has spoken on BBC Radio, contributed to Bristol Post and has various aviation articles on various websites.