A FInal Wave: 'Air India Boeing 747' take Final Flight in Mumbai

 MUMBAI: Air India said goodbye to one of its final Boeing 747s on Monday when it departed the Mumbai airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had de-registered this aircraft, Agra, the year before. As is usual for retiring flights, the pilots gave a “Wing Wave” to commemorate the occasion.

Air India Boeing 747 / Image Credit - Social Media

A Final Wave of Air India

Today marked the final departure of Air India's renowned Boeing 747 jumbo jet, which had ruled the skies for many years. At 10:47 AM, the airplane took off for the last time from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, signaling the end of an era.

When an aircraft reaches retirement age, the pilot in the air usually gives a "Wing Wave" to the sky. The aircraft was once used for long-haul international flight operations and functioned as the backbone of the carrier's flying operations.

Relationship between Air India and Boeing 747 aircraft

Air India took delivery of the Boeing 747, known as Agra, on Monday morning at Mumbai airport. The aircraft was first registered in October 1996. First purchased by Air India in 1971, the historic Boeing 747 saw its final commercial flight on a domestic route in March 2021.

Air India just sold its final four Boeing 747 aircraft. Before Boeing 777s took their place, these planes, dubbed the "Queen of the Skies," flew Indian presidents, vice presidents, and prime ministers for many years.

423 seats, comprising 12 First Class, 26 Business Class, and 385 Economy Class seats, were available aboard Air India's 747 aircraft. On January 21, 1970, the first 747 was put into service on Pan Am Airlines' inaugural route between New York and London.

One of the first users of these aircraft was Air India, which added the 500-seater aircraft to its fleet as early as 1971. In addition to utilizing them for commercial flights for little over 50 years, Air India also utilized two of these aircraft to transport the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister (VVIPs) until two renovated B777s took their place in October 2020.

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