Virgin Atlantic to Fully Retire Boeing 747 Fleet by 2021

Virgin Atlantic Airways announced it would begin to retire its Boeing 747 fleet, and operate its last 747 flight in 2021.

The announcement came at the reveal of the airline’s Airbus A350-1000 interior on Monday. Following the delivery of the new A350-1000s, the airline will discontinue the use of its 747s, something that had originally been announced in July 2016 when the airline placed its order for 12 of the Airbus aircraft.

The 747 has been a mainstay and flagship of Virgin’s fleet. Its first aircraft was a Boeing 747-200 that first flew in 1984 as G-VIRG. Virgin retired the 747-200 in 2000.

Virgin currently has eight 747-400s in its fleet. The oldest is 23 years old and the youngest is 17. The aircraft seats 455 passengers including 14 fully lie-flat seats in the Upper Class business-class cabin in the nose of the aircraft, 66 Premium premium-economy seats behind Upper Class and at the front of the upper deck, and 375 economy seats throughout the remainder of the aircraft.

Virgin competitor British Airways previously announced it would begin to retire its 747 fleet and operate its last 747 flight in 2024.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)