This retired British Airways 747 is now an exclusive party plane

The Boeing 747 revolutionised air travel when it first took to the skies in 1969. Now, after an impressive five decade production run, one iconic jumbo jet is gearing up for perhaps its most ambitious role yet – as a ‘party plane’ available for weddings and private events.

Sporting British Airways’ classic ‘Negus’ livery – a distinctive red, white and blue design that featured across the fleet from 1974 to 1980 – the 747 was put out to pasture in April 2020 after completing 13,398 flights and racking up an impressive 118,445 flight hours.

But this Queen of the Skies wasn’t quite ready for retirement just yet.

She was purchased for a token £1 by Cotswold Airport, near the village of Kemble in Gloucestershire, England, with airport CEO Suzannah Harvey revealing grand plans for the old girl.

Harvey told CNN Travel she was offered her pick between four retired BA 747s, but the choice was an easy one, describing the British Airways livery created by feted British design agency Negus & Negus as “the most beautiful one they’ve ever produced”.

An extensive 14-month interior makeover saw the economy class ceiling panels, seats and overhead luggage compartments removed to open up the spacious cabin.

The jumbo now sports a large, multi-space dancefloor matched by an impressive lighting rig, DJ booth and bar seating.

The galley kitchen has also been converted into a cosy walk-up bar, although the first class cabin and the cockpit remain untouched, should you need a space to sit down and catch your breath.

The Cotswold Airport 747 Negus is now available for weddings, birthdays, launches and any other event you’d care to hold inside a jumbo jet.

Rates start at around £1000 (AUD $1,911) an hour, with a 24-hour full day hire setting you back some £12,000 (AUD $22,934) – still, it’s a small price to pay to experience a piece of aviation history.

For what it’s worth, the first Qantas Boeing 747-400 is now in residence at Australia’s Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Aviation Museum at Albion Park, one hour south of Sydney.

The Captain Cook Lounge adorned the upper deck of the first Qantas Boeing 747s.

Sadly, it doesn’t boast the the Captain Cook Lounge which featured on the upper deck of the original Qantas jumbo jets, where first class passengers could relax in the retro-fabulous surroundings of faux wood, swivel chairs and a bright orange sofa.