Air India is saying farewell to their 747 400 fleet, and the first aircraft to depart is the VT-EVA. The aircraft has been parked at Mumbai International Airport (BOM) since March 2021. This is her final takeoff from Indian soil. This comes from India’s remaining four Boeing 747-400 airplanes, which have found a new owner – US-based AerSale, a supplier of aftermarket commercial jet engines and parts.
The video shows the pilots performing a wing wave to mark the occasion. This gesture is done during milestone flights like delivery and final flights. It means the aircrew gives gratitude to the ground personnel.
VT-EVA will land on American soil in the next few hours. In a twist of fate, she is rumored to be parted out in Seattle’s Paine Field, the airport where she once rolled out the 747 Final Assembly Line. The remaining 747s in the fleet have also been sold, and according to ch-aviation, two will be converted to freighters while the other two will be scrapped. The registrations concerned are the 1993-built VT-ESO (MSN 27165), a 1994-built VT-ESP (MSN 27214), and the 1996-built VT-EVA (MSN 28094) and VT-EVB (MSN 28095).
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The 747 was once Air India’s flagship aircraft.
The Queen of the Skies had a special place in India.
The fleet of 747-400 carried millions of passengers from India to far-away destinations like New York JFK, Los Angeles LAX, and London LHR. However, in their later years, they also served another vital part of India’s democracy by transporting the prime minister and president to airports worldwide during global meetings like the G20 and state visits.
Today, two specially modified former Air India 777-300ERs have replaced their role as state carriers. The planes previously held the registrations VT-ALW and VT-ALV. They now wear the military registrations K-7067 and K-7066, respectively.
Bottom Line
Today marks the end of an era for the flag carrier of the Asian nation. The 747 was once the backbone of the fleet, and with this specific variant, the -400 has been with AI for the past 25 years. Newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft will now take over. Air India is going through a vast shakeup, having made one of the most significant orders in aviation history at the Paris Airshow last year; this will see them operate 40 A350s, ten 777Xs, and 190. Mumbai’s aviation enthusiasts will mourn the Queen of the skies, but a new era will soon dawn. The saying goes, “The queen is dead, long live the king.”
What do you think of the end of the 747 era at Air India? Have you flown on them? Let us know in the comments.
