Watch: Old British Airways jumbo jet, bought for £1, transformed into unique party plane
An iconic 747 British Airways jet, bought for just £1, has been transformed into a bar to host lavish plane parties.
The BA Negus plane, which resides at Cotswold Airport in Kemble, has been transformed into an events space to hold everything from private birthday parties to product launches and corporate events.
It was bought for just £1 in 2020 and has since been a labour of love for the airport’s chief executive, Suzannah Harvey, after British Airways retired its fleet early due to the pandemic.
“I paid a pound for her, and we have a certain obligation to maintain it as is practical for public use,” Harvey explains.
“The company has had to spend nearly £500,000 getting her prepped and ready here, but I think it’s money well spent and it preserves her for future generations.”
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While most of the original structure of the plane has stayed the same, the transformation has included stripping out the economy section to create the events space and the gallery has been changed into a bar.
A full rewiring with funky, custom lighting has also been carried out.
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Before the incredible makeover could get started, the plane first needed a really good clean both inside and out, a task which took one man an entire week and a half to complete.
“It’s been a long old slog,” Harvey continues. “She came into us in October 2020, and at the time I rather naively thought we’d have her up and running by the following Easter.”
Despite delays to the original launch date, Harvey says the project has been really well received.
“We’ve had such tremendous support from everybody,” she says. “All the…