Fondly known as the ‘Queen of the Skies’, Air India’s iconic Boeing 747 aircraft made its final flight, departing for the United States from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on April 22.
During its send-off, Air India’s ‘Queen of the Skies’ performed a stunning ‘wing wave’, a traditional gesture marking an aircraft’s retirement, sparking nostalgia among social media users.
Queen of the Skies: End of an era for Air India’s Boeing 747
Today, we wave goodbye to the first of our last ‘Queen of the Skies’, the B747, departing Mumbai.
Thank you for an era of majestic flights. We’ll miss your iconic presence.
Credits – @CSMIA_Official#AirIndia #b747 #QueenOfTheSkies pic.twitter.com/W3M15eo5Nx
— Air India (@airindia) April 22, 2024
Air India bid farewell to the first of its remaining ‘Queen of the Skies’ with a touching post on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Today, we wave goodbye to the first of our last ‘Queen of the Skies’, the B747, departing Mumbai,” the airline wrote. “Thank you for an era of majestic flights. We’ll miss your iconic presence.”
The Economic Times reports that the retirement of Air India’s ‘Queen of the Skies’ aligns with a broader industry trend. Airlines are increasingly replacing older aircraft with more modern, fuel-efficient jets. Dismantling the Boeing 747 in the US reflects this shift towards environment-friendly options.
According to The Indian Express, Air India introduced its first Boeing 747, christened ‘Agra’, in 1971. This legendary double-decker aircraft, boasting 423 seats — 12 First Class, 26 Business Class and 385 Economy Class — served VVIPs including prime ministers, presidents and vice presidents. Its last commercial flight took place on a domestic route in March 2021.
Check out our story on planes used by prominent world leaders.
(Feature image credit: Renatas Repcinskas/Shutterstock)
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