British Airways unveils final heritage design

British Airways has unveiled the final design in a series of retro liveries forming part of its centenary celebrations.

A Boeing 747 will be painted in the Negus design at Dublin Airport on Saturday and will return to London Heathrow later this month.

The livery featured on the airline’s fleet from 1974 to 1980, which was directly after the merger of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and British European Airways (BEA).

It was the first time a plane had carried the name British Airways since 1939.

The repainted 747 will operate British Airways’ long-haul routes and will keep the design until it is taken out of service in 2022.

The Negus will be the fourth and final heritage design painted on a British Airways aircraft, following BOAC, BEA and Landor liveries.

British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz said: “Rumours have been circulating for quite some time about this final livery, so it’s exciting to confirm it is the Negus design.

“It’s particularly significant for us because it’s the first design worn by the British Airways that we all know today, with the distinctive lower case ‘a’ and the Union flag on the tailfin.”

Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T) launched the world’s first daily international scheduled flight between London and Paris in August 1919.

British Airways describes AT&T as its “forerunner company” due to a series of mergers and takeovers.