Also curious about routes, since in those days the 747s were flying with many en route stops, a hangover from the 50s and 60s when the first stop on the way to Australia was Frankfurt or Zurich. Seems that even in the early 70s when the 747s took over from 707s and VC10s, you could fly LHR-ZRH or FRA-BEY on a BA 747. I love to hear about multi-stopping flights of yesteryear, anyone know any specific routes with 747s?
Final routes were in the late 90s with -400s doing the ultra-longhaul (SIN, NRT, SFO), -200s doing some reasonably impressive heavy lifting (BKK, NBO, MIA) and the -100s doing short oceanic (PHL, YYZ, BOS, JFK, IAD) and India.
Finally, what is the exact sequence of the introduction of business class? Seems that the late 70s saw the introduction of "Executive Class" which became "Super Club" but only on US routes in c. 1984, later rolled out to the rest of the network in around 1987. Any clarification on that?
Interesting shots of an overhaul in 1985; you can almost hear Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood playing out of a tinny radio somewhere in the cabin
![]() Photo © Michael Runnicles | ![]() Photo © Michael Runnicles |
![]() Photo © Richard Vandervord | ![]() Photo © Richard Vandervord |