Heathrow's Geriatric Jets

[Cessna954]

At the time of its retirement, it was reported that BA 747 G-BNLK was the oldest passenger B747 in scheduled service (I assume that puts aside cargo conversions, military and test aircraft etc.). That got me thinking what were the remaining oldest aircraft regularly operating in to Heathrow.

I'm happy to be corrected on the below, but I believe at this moment in time and taking one type from each contending airline, they may be as follows:

In 3rd place is British Airways and their two remaing first batch of B747-400s, with G-BNLN having a first Flight 17th July 1990 - 28 years 6 months
19920417-Heathrow-7 by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

In second place, Lufthansa and their early Airbus A320-200s, with D-AIPA having a first flight date of 2nd August 1989 - 29 years 6 months
20151008-112438-Heathrow by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

In 1st place, Air Canada and their remaining Boeing 767-300 fleet, with C-FCAE having a first flight date of 22nd April 1988 - 30 years 9 months
20090623-134921-Heathrow by Neil D. Brant, on Flickr

If I've overlooked any I would be interested to know.

Neil

[Caravelle 10R]

Very interesting. Testament to the engineering support of these airlines, especially when you read of Airbuses at 7 years being scrapped as it's more cost effective to reduce to spares than do the full due maintenance check.

[acw367]

That is how I have it for PASSENGER aircraft. On the cargo side DHL Air Boeing 757s in the G-BMR series are there. G-BMRA had its first flight in mid-February 1987 a whopping 32 years ago.

When ACA gets its extra A330s and retires those last Boeing 767s during 2019, we will have one airline operating both the Oldest and Newest passenger aircraft at Heathrow and they will be the same type. The D-AIP* A320-211 classics will be the oldest, while the same airline picks up brand new D-AIW* A320-214 and D-AIN* A320-271N throughout 2019.

Regards ACW367