• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  British Airways • News  >  British Airways Debuts Its Next Retro Jet (And It’s A Stunner)
British AirwaysNews

British Airways Debuts Its Next Retro Jet (And It’s A Stunner)

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 5, 2019March 5, 2019 10 Comments

British Airways has revealed the second in its series of heritage liveries, this time a reminder of the British European Airways (BEA) era.

The Airbus A319 arrived in Heathrow yesterday from Shannon, Ireland with fresh paint. It soon made its first voyage to Manchester. This aircraft will serve domestic and European destinations until it is retired next year. Unlike the original, this livery will feature a gray upper wing instead of red (due to safety regulations).

BEA existed from 1946 to 1974, serving routes in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East as well as domestic routes. It merged with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) to form British Airways in 1974.

Alex Cruz, BA’s CEO, pointed to how popular these heritage designs are:

It was another really special day as we welcomed our BEA liveried A319 in to Heathrow this morning, which forms part of our centenary heritage fleet. Yet again there were huge crowds lining the perimeter fence to see the aircraft coming in, which shows just how excited people are about these designs. We’ve been overwhelmed with positive feedback from customers and colleagues.

Why so popular? Because people enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves. British Airways, celebrating its 100th birthday, has touched so many people in so many ways over the years. Airline liveries become links to the past.

Here’s what the original livery looked like (circa 1962):

All pictures courtesy of British Airways

CONCLUSION

I’d say the new paint job looks stunning. We still have another 747 to look forward to later this month bearing a British Airways Landor livery (used from 1984-1997). Then, we will get one more “mystery” livery that I can only hope pays homage to Imperial Airways.

What do you think of the new British Airways BEA Retro A319?

Previous Article Review: United Airlines 757-300 First Class Honolulu To Los Angeles
Next Article AAdvantage Elite Members Win Big, But World Of Hyatt Members?

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • British Airways upgrade

    British Airways Systemwide Upgrades Worse For American Airlines

    September 18, 2022
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred card

    Chase Sapphire Preferred’s Most Valuable Feature

    August 22, 2021
  • British Airways Galleries First Lounge London T3 Review

    Review: British Airways Galleries First Lounge London (LHR – T3)

    August 4, 2020

10 Comments

  1. NB Reply
    March 5, 2019 at 8:54 am

    Why they would want to remind people of the existence of BEA is beyond me. Whilst BOAC had an excellent reputation, BEA was a by-word of everything that was wrong with a state-owned airline. Rude, expensive, late and uncomfortable.

    • Phil Duncan Reply
      March 5, 2019 at 10:36 am

      That’s not my memory of BEA at all. I used to enjoy flying with them and they offered what at the time was good service and decent value for money.

      It’s a pity this livery has been painted on to a plane that’s due to leave the fleet next year, I would have liked to see it on a new A20N and it could have lasted for a few years until a repaint is due, after all they’ve only just repainted the last 2012 dove livery.

    • Howard Miller Reply
      March 5, 2019 at 11:54 am

      RE: BEA was a by-word of everything that was wrong with a state-owned airline. Rude, expensive, late and uncomfortable.

      Oh, wow!!!

      That sounds just like a great many so-called “privately managed/shareholder owned” airlines of today such as American, United, Ryanair, Allegiant, Frontier, and a few others, including even BA! 😉

      Hehehe

  2. Kenneth Reply
    March 5, 2019 at 10:41 am

    I love it! Congratulations to British Airways for another stunning retro livery.

    I’m old enough to remember flying aboard BEA’s Viscount and Vanguard aircraft. The latter (seen in the photo above) was one of my favorite planes, with its large oval windows and wide, plush seats.

    The BEA livery didn’t appeal to me back then, when there were so many beautiful and distinctive airline paint jobs. But in this era of boring, Eurowhite jets, BA’s little 319 looks so-o-o cool!

  3. Dylan Reply
    March 5, 2019 at 10:44 am

    This looks nicer to me than the BOAC livery. Black & Red is not a color you will find on airlines today!

  4. Esteban Reply
    March 5, 2019 at 11:19 am

    I thought the next after the Landor was going to be the Negus.

    • Howard Miller Reply
      March 5, 2019 at 12:01 pm

      Yeah, me too on the Negus livery presumed as likely being the fourth and last of the retro jet liveries for BA’s centennial celebration.

      FWIW, the Negus livery was seen as prominently featured in pics from the Concorde lounge on half a dozen or so flight bags that were included in a display at JFK Airport on the day the BOAC 747 made its debut stateside.

  5. Lara S. Reply
    March 5, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    Gorgeous! Can’t wait to see the rest of the planes.

  6. YULtide Reply
    March 5, 2019 at 10:43 pm

    Sweet livery, but ironic that it’s British European Airways, given Brexit. As is your comment that “people enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves.” Evidently 52% don’t.

  7. Pingback: British Airways Debuts Its Next Retro Jet | British Airways flights

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Lufthansa First Class Review
    Review: Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Frankfurt – Chicago March 28, 2023
  • Air France-KLM Business Class Seat Fees
    Air France-KLM Business Class Seat Assignment Fees: Unwelcome Yet Reasonable March 28, 2023
  • United Airlines Crew Hold Times
    Flight Attendants At United Airlines Asked To Self-Report Poor Service Via “Marginal Service Reports” March 27, 2023
  • Waldo Delta LAX
    “Where’s Waldo?” Jumps Out Of Delta 737-800 At LAX, Scoots Down Exit Slide March 27, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Kayleigh Scott United Airlines
    The Tragic Death Of A United Airlines Flight Attendant March 21, 2023
  • United Airlines Domestic First Class Menu
    United Airlines Refreshes Domestic First Class Menu February 28, 2023
  • Southwest Airlines Wife Slap
    Enraged Husband Attacks Man On Southwest Airlines Flight After He Bumps Wife March 8, 2023
  • United Polaris Lounge LAX Review
    Review: United Airlines Polaris Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) March 24, 2023

Archives

March 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Feb    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.