British Airways faces aircraft shortage as Boeing 747s sit idle
- British Airways has canceled three daily long-haul flights this winter due to a shortage of serviceable aircraft.
- The airline's Boeing 747s have been retired, leading to downsized flights, including a recent Boston-to-London route.
- The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in the aviation industry as airlines struggle to meet passenger demand.
In the wake of a global aircraft shortage, British Airways has had to cancel three daily long-haul flights this winter due to a lack of serviceable planes. The airline, which previously operated a large fleet of Boeing 747s, has seen many of these aircraft grounded, particularly in locations like Teruel, Spain, and Victorville, California. The situation has been exacerbated by the retirement of the Jumbo jets, which were already scheduled for decommissioning even before the Covid pandemic. As a result, British Airways has been downsizing flights, such as a recent Boston-to-London route that was switched from an A380 to a Boeing 777 due to insufficient aircraft availability. Meanwhile, a new airline, Global Airlines, is attempting to revive A380s for transatlantic flights, but the process of refurbishing and maintaining these aircraft is slow. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by airlines in managing their fleets and meeting passenger demand during a period of recovery from the pandemic.