British Airways has repainted one of its Boeing 757-200s in a retro livery, dating back 27 years, to mark the retirement of the type from its fleet this month.
The airline is withdrawing its 757s from mainline scheduled service on 30 October, although the type will continue to fly for its French-based premium subsidiary OpenSkies.
British Airways is repainting one of the twin-jets, registered G-CPET, in the 1983 derivative of an original livery designed by consultancy Negus & Negus.
The livery, which matches that used by the airline when the 757 entered service, features the single brand 'British' and 'speedbird' logo on the forward fuselage, and the familiar Union flag design on the fin.
BA's 757 fleet peaked at 54 aircraft - many of which were named after castles - but the twin-jets have been gradually removed from its operation. The commemorative 757 will carry the name 'Stokesay Castle', after a manor in Shropshire, for its final month.
While several 757s were originally intended to reinforce the OpenSkies fleet, BA has instead opted to sell them to FedEx for freighter conversion.
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"Back in 1983, the Boeing 757, was at the cutting edge of aviation technology enhancing our capability to land in thick fog," says BA director of flight operations Capt Stephen Riley.
"This allowed British Airways to fly when rival carriers would be grounded. Almost everyone in the operational side of the business has either piloted, repaired, dispatched or looked after customers flying on this aircraft over the past 27 years."
Source: Flight International
