This could be the world’s shortest-ever Boeing 747 flight
The aircraft was being put into retirement
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Is this the shortest-ever Boeing 747 flight?
British Airways flew a 25-year-old 747, the iconic aircraft known as the Queen of the Skies, just four miles yesterday.
Flight BA9172 was flying from Cardiff to St Athan, the location of an engineering base, for the aircraft to be retired.
However, this wasn’t a commercial flight. There were no passengers onboard on the jet, registration G-CIVG, which was delivered in April 1995.
The entire journey, which comprised a loop from Cardiff airport around the towns of Barry and Penarth, took just 21 minutes, according to flight tracking data.
British Airways, the world’s largest operator of the aircraft, has pledged to retire its ageing 747s by 2024. Half the fleet is being phased out by 2021.
A British Airways spokesperson said: “As part of our £6.5 billion customer investment, we are receiving 73 brand new aircraft over the next five years including our new Airbus A350 and Boeing 787.
“As we are receiving these new aircraft we're retiring our long-serving ones after many years of flying our customers around the world.”
British Airways is in a period of fleet modernisation. In July, the airline’s first Airbus A350 landed at London Heathrow, which also featured the British flag carrier’s new business class cabin, called Club Suite.
Last week British Airways announced its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner would debut in February.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments