A British Airways Boeing 747 was bought for $1.35 by an English airport and converted into a 'party plane' event space — see inside the renovated Queen of the Skies

Taylor RainsFeb 13, 2022, 20:06 IST

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

Cotswold Airport in England bought a British Airways 747 for $1.35 and converted it into a "party plane."
The aircraft, which features a dance floor and bar, costs $1,350 per hour to rent, or $16,000 for 24 hours.

The iconic Boeing 747 jumbo jet has been an unfortunate casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many airlines speeding up its retirement over the past two years.

Korean Air Boeing 747Boeing

In 2020, British Airways sent its 747s to Cotswold Airport in England for storage, and the planes sat in rows until they were officially retired in October of the same year.

British Airways 747s parked at Cotswold Airport.Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

In 2020, British Airways sent its 747s to Cotswold Airport in England for storage, and the planes sat in rows until they were officially retired in October of the same year.

However, while most of the planes were sent to the junkyard to be disassembled, the airport did not want to let all of them go.

British Airways Boeing 747.Jed Leicester/Shutterstock

So, Cotswold Airport CEO Suzannah Harvey asked the airline if she could keep one of the 747s and repurpose it to preserve the Queen of the Skies' legacy and beauty.

Suzannah Harvey with the Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

The airline agreed and sold it to the airport for just £1 ($1.35). As part of the sale, Harvey explained to Insider that BA has entrusted the airport to maintain the aircraft "as long as it is financially practical for the public use."

British Airways 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airpirt

The airline agreed and sold it to the airport for just £1 ($1.35). As part of the sale, Harvey explained to Insider that BA has entrusted the airport to maintain the aircraft "as long as it is financially practical for the public use."

The 747 first joined the BA fleet in 1994 and operated 13,398 flights across nearly 60 million miles. It took its final flight from Miami to London Heathrow in April 2020.

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

The 747 first joined the BA fleet in 1994 and operated 13,398 flights across nearly 60 million miles. It took its final flight from Miami to London Heathrow in April 2020.

The jumbo jet is one of four aircraft that feature BA's unique Negus paint job that was adorned in the 1970s and 1980s. The heritage livery was painted in 2019 to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary.

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

The jumbo jet is one of four aircraft that feature BA's unique Negus paint job that was adorned in the 1970s and 1980s. The heritage livery was painted in 2019 to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary.

The airport invested £500,000 ($676,655) to convert the jet into a "party plane." However, £200,000 ($271,000) of that was used to build a concrete slab that houses the massive plane.

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

The airport invested £500,000 ($676,655) to convert the jet into a "party plane." However, £200,000 ($271,000) of that was used to build a concrete slab that houses the massive plane.

Onboard, guests will find the economy section has been transformed into a dance floor complete with lights, seating, and a DJ stand...

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

…while the galleys have been turned in a bar.

Boeing 747 "party plane" galley bar.Cotswold Airport

Meanwhile, the overhead bins and ceiling panels have been removed to reveal the fly-by-wire and inner workings of the aircraft.

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

"When you use the controls in the cockpit, that end actually has a physical effect by a wire on the 747s ailerons, flaps, etc., but nowadays it's all just computer," Harvey explained. "So, it's very special."

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

"When you use the controls in the cockpit, that end actually has a physical effect by a wire on the 747s ailerons, flaps, etc., but nowadays it's all just computer," Harvey explained. "So, it's very special."

Moreover, the lights have been rewired to replicate the original lighting system the aircraft had when it was on the ground, costing about £80,000 ($108,000).

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

The rest of the plane has been kept completely intact, including the upper deck, Harvey said.

Boeing 747 "party plane" upper deck.Cotswold Airport

However, she explained the airport initially intended to keep the inflight TVs working and do a monthly cinema screening onboard, but the systems have proven difficult. The screens are expected to be fixed in the next six months or so.

Boeing 747 "party plane" screens.Cotswold Airport

However, she explained the airport initially intended to keep the inflight TVs working and do a monthly cinema screening onboard, but the systems have proven difficult. The screens are expected to be fixed in the next six months or so.

While many aviation enthusiasts will want to enter the cockpit, Harvey told Insider that some of the systems are still operable, so no one will be able to touch the controls. However, a barrier will be put in the doorway so interested eyes can still see inside.

Boeing 747 "party plane" cockpit.Cotswold Airport

While many aviation enthusiasts will want to enter the cockpit, Harvey told Insider that some of the systems are still operable, so no one will be able to touch the controls. However, a barrier will be put in the doorway so interested eyes can still see inside.

According to Harvey, the plane's event space is intended for things like weddings and she is getting dozens of inquiries a day. "We're getting everything from big car manufacturers to individual birthday parties," she said.

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

According to Harvey, the plane's event space is intended for things like weddings and she is getting dozens of inquiries a day. "We're getting everything from big car manufacturers to individual birthday parties," she said.

Although the 747 is built for entertainment and events, its use is versatile.

"Party plane" economy section before removal.Cotswold Airport

Recently, the plane was used for a hijacking scene for a movie, Harvey told Insider. However, she explained that unless given permission by the airline, BA's livery will need to be edited out of the film to protect the company's brand.

British Airways 747 "party plane" landing at Cotswold Airport.Cotswold Airport

Recently, the plane was used for a hijacking scene for a movie, Harvey told Insider. However, she explained that unless given permission by the airline, BA's livery will need to be edited out of the film to protect the company's brand.

Despite the hefty renovations, there is one part of the plane that has been particularly difficult to get operational — the toilets.

British Airways 747 lavatory.James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images

"They are designed to work like a vacuum when the aircraft is pressurized, so it's something we'll look at at a later date," she said. "For now, we have a really posh little loo block outside, which does the job for the time being."

British Airways 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

"They are designed to work like a vacuum when the aircraft is pressurized, so it's something we'll look at at a later date," she said. "For now, we have a really posh little loo block outside, which does the job for the time being."

For those wanting to book the space for a wedding, it'll cost £12,000 ($16,200) for 24-hours, including set up and break down times. The regular hourly rate is £1,000 ($1,350).

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

For those wanting to book the space for a wedding, it'll cost £12,000 ($16,200) for 24-hours, including set up and break down times. The regular hourly rate is £1,000 ($1,350).

Harvey said the interest in the aircraft is exciting and she expects the investment will pay itself back over a couple of years.

British Airways 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

Moreover, part of the money earned will be put into the airport's annual scholarship program and to pay for students' private pilot licenses.

Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport

"Every year we take on 10 kids for about two weeks and they get some flight training and get to go to Rolls-Royce, Airbus, and some of the military bases nearby to see all the different aspects of aviation careers they could do," she said.

British Airways 747 "party plane" landing at Cotswold Airport.Cotswold Airport

"Every year we take on 10 kids for about two weeks and they get some flight training and get to go to Rolls-Royce, Airbus, and some of the military bases nearby to see all the different aspects of aviation careers they could do," she said.

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A British Airways Boeing 747 was bought for $1.35 by an English airport and converted into a 'party plane' event space &mdash; see inside the renovated Queen of the Skies

The iconic Boeing 747 jumbo jet has been an unfortunate casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many airlines speeding up its retirement over the past two years.

In 2020, British Airways sent its 747s to Cotswold Airport in England for storage, and the planes sat in rows until they were officially retired in October of the same year.

However, while most of the planes were sent to the junkyard to be disassembled, the airport did not want to let all of them go.

So, Cotswold Airport CEO Suzannah Harvey asked the airline if she could keep one of the 747s and repurpose it to preserve the Queen of the Skies' legacy and beauty.

The airline agreed and sold it to the airport for just £1 ($1.35). As part of the sale, Harvey explained to Insider that BA has entrusted the airport to maintain the aircraft "as long as it is financially practical for the public use."

The 747 first joined the BA fleet in 1994 and operated 13,398 flights across nearly 60 million miles. It took its final flight from Miami to London Heathrow in April 2020.

The jumbo jet is one of four aircraft that feature BA's unique Negus paint job that was adorned in the 1970s and 1980s. The heritage livery was painted in 2019 to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary.

The airport invested £500,000 ($676,655) to convert the jet into a "party plane." However, £200,000 ($271,000) of that was used to build a concrete slab that houses the massive plane.

Onboard, guests will find the economy section has been transformed into a dance floor complete with lights, seating, and a DJ stand...

…while the galleys have been turned in a bar.

Meanwhile, the overhead bins and ceiling panels have been removed to reveal the fly-by-wire and inner workings of the aircraft.

"When you use the controls in the cockpit, that end actually has a physical effect by a wire on the 747s ailerons, flaps, etc., but nowadays it's all just computer," Harvey explained. "So, it's very special."

Moreover, the lights have been rewired to replicate the original lighting system the aircraft had when it was on the ground, costing about £80,000 ($108,000).

The rest of the plane has been kept completely intact, including the upper deck, Harvey said.

However, she explained the airport initially intended to keep the inflight TVs working and do a monthly cinema screening onboard, but the systems have proven difficult. The screens are expected to be fixed in the next six months or so.

While many aviation enthusiasts will want to enter the cockpit, Harvey told Insider that some of the systems are still operable, so no one will be able to touch the controls. However, a barrier will be put in the doorway so interested eyes can still see inside.

According to Harvey, the plane's event space is intended for things like weddings and she is getting dozens of inquiries a day. "We're getting everything from big car manufacturers to individual birthday parties," she said.

Although the 747 is built for entertainment and events, its use is versatile.

Recently, the plane was used for a hijacking scene for a movie, Harvey told Insider. However, she explained that unless given permission by the airline, BA's livery will need to be edited out of the film to protect the company's brand.

Despite the hefty renovations, there is one part of the plane that has been particularly difficult to get operational — the toilets.

"They are designed to work like a vacuum when the aircraft is pressurized, so it's something we'll look at at a later date," she said. "For now, we have a really posh little loo block outside, which does the job for the time being."

For those wanting to book the space for a wedding, it'll cost £12,000 ($16,200) for 24-hours, including set up and break down times. The regular hourly rate is £1,000 ($1,350).

Harvey said the interest in the aircraft is exciting and she expects the investment will pay itself back over a couple of years.

Moreover, part of the money earned will be put into the airport's annual scholarship program and to pay for students' private pilot licenses.

"Every year we take on 10 kids for about two weeks and they get some flight training and get to go to Rolls-Royce, Airbus, and some of the military bases nearby to see all the different aspects of aviation careers they could do," she said.

A British Airways Boeing 747 was bought for $1.35 by an English airport and converted into a 'party plane' event space — see inside the renovated Queen of the Skies