British Airways (BA) forced to carry out a drastic austerity cure. The British airline announced on Friday the withdrawal of the Boeing 747 "Jumbo Jet" from its fleet after the coronavirus epidemic which has shaken the air transport sector.
"It is unlikely that our magnificent" Queen of Heaven "will be operated again by British Airways given the reduction in travel," said the company, "with immense sadness," in a statement sent to AFP. The last 747 was to be removed from the fleet "in 2024," BA said.
Air transport market revolution
Launched in 1970 by the American manufacturer Boeing, the "Jumbo Jet" revolutionized the air transport market. In the decades that followed, it became a legendary device capable of carrying 400 passengers on board.
With 31 "Jumbos" in its fleet, BA specifies in its press release that it is the airline that continued to operate the most with this aircraft.
‼ ️ [BREAKING] The #BritishAirways Boeing 747s will not fly
🔸Withdrawal of the Jumbo Jet anticipated by 4 years due to # COVID19
🔸With a fleet of 28 aircraft, British Airways was the # 1 operator in the world # B747-400
Goodbye #QueenoftheSky 👋 pic.twitter.com/hEg0nUlqTd
The entire aviation sector was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought an abrupt halt to activity due to containment measures taken by many countries to try to curb the spread of the virus. His decision to do without the Jumbo Jet is a new sign of the end of the era of very large aircraft.
12,000 job cuts
CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said, "You have to admit that a number of British Airways 747s were tired" and were no longer "up to current standards for more modern A380s." "The decision was therefore probably necessary, given the age of its fleet and environmental requirements," he added.
In addition, British Airways, which belongs to the IAG group, has announced the reduction of 12,000 jobs, or more than a quarter of its workforce.
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