LONDON- British Airways (BA) serves as the flagship carrier of the United Kingdom and stands out as one of the most renowned airlines in Europe.
Tracing its roots back to the original Imperial Airways, British Airways was officially formed through the merger of British European Airways (BEA) and the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) between 1971 and 1974.
British Airways Oldest Aircraft in Fleet
The airline boasts a diverse fleet history, encompassing various British, American, and European-built aircraft, including the iconic Concorde.
However, for an overview of the current British Airways fleet, let’s focus on examining the oldest members in service today, as reported by FlightRadar24.
Oldest Single-Aisle British Aircraft
The most senior narrowbody aircraft within the British Airways fleet is G-EUPD, an Airbus A319-131 MSN01142 with a registration dating back to November 1999, making it 24 years old.
As a vital component of BA’s short and medium-haul operations, the A320 family serves as the linchpin, with Papa Delta (G-EUPD) showcasing its reliability as a hardworking narrowbody aircraft.
This aircraft typically handles between 6 to 7 sectors on an average day. Stationed at the airline’s primary hub, London Heathrow (LHR), G-EUPD frequently operates flights to numerous key destinations across the European network.
Oldest Widebody British Aircraft
The most aged widebody aircraft within the British Airways fleet is G-VIIA, a Boeing 777-236ER that has been in service for 27 years with MSN 27483.
This aircraft, first registered in October 1996, is stationed at London Heathrow (LHR). Operating under the designation India Alpha, it predominantly serves routes connecting London to the Americas, emphasizing destinations like New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Bermuda (BGA), and Toronto (YYZ).
Apart from its American focus, the aircraft is occasionally utilized for flights to Africa and the Middle East, including recent Doha (DOH) and Lagos (LOH) routes.
Meanwhile, in Paris, just a short distance across the English Channel, Air France houses a similarly-aged 777-200, F-GSPA, which holds the title of the oldest widebody in the Air France fleet.
Oldest Regional Aircraft
When British Airways and regional jets come to mind, one likely envisions the prominent fleet of Embraer 190 aircraft managed by BA CityFlyer, numbering 20.
However, the title of the oldest operational regional jet in British Airways’ service goes to OY-NCW, a Dornier 328-300 Jet registered in November 1999. This distinctive aircraft is among the four adorned in British Airways livery and is operated by the subsidiary Sun Air.
As of the latest update, the aircraft is engaged in once-daily shuttle flights connecting Marseilles (MRS) and Augsburg (AGB), while it is frequently spotted on routes linking Manchester (MAN), Billund (BLL), and Gothenburg (GOT).
Contrastingly, the newest addition to BA’s regional jet roster is G-LCYS, an Embraer 190SR with a 9-year history, stationed at London City Airport (LCY).
Finally, the last British Airways Boeing 747-400 was scrapped at MOD Saint Athan (DGX) in Jun 2020. It used to bear an Oneworld alliance livery.
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