Saying Goodbye: Air India's Final Boeing 747 Takes Off from Mumbai Airport

Air India bid farewell to one of its last remaining Boeing 747s from Mumbai airport on Monday. The aircraft, named Agra, had been de-registered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last year. This symbolic departure marked the end of an era for the iconic aircraft, known for its service in operating international flights for top dignitaries such as the president, prime minister, and vice president, according to a PTI report. The pilots of the Boeing 747 performed a poignant "Wing Wave" move, a tradition reserved for retiring flights, adding an emotional touch to the send-off.

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

The significance of this farewell was highlighted by Debasish Chakraverty, an aviation historian, who remarked, "Once registered VT-EVA and named 'Agra,' it was de-registered by the DGCA last year after retirement, and its 'Air India' titles and logos were removed." Consequently, a temporary American registration, N940AS, was assigned to facilitate its final departure from its former home base, heading towards an uncertain future. Back in April 2022, the aviation regulator DGCA had de-registered four Boeing 747 jumbo jets that had not been in operation since February 2020. This move occurred just months after Tata Group assumed control of Air India in January 2022.

What will become of these retired Air India Boeing 747 aircraft?

One of the Boeing 747s embarked on its last journey from Mumbai airport on Monday, while another is anticipated to follow suit soon. These aircraft have been sold to foreign companies, likely to be repurposed as freighters for transporting cargo and supplies over long distances. As for the remaining two Air India Boeing 747s, they will undergo disassembly in Mumbai to salvage their parts. This process aims to prolong the aircraft's lifecycle and repurpose their components as spares or scrap metal.

• Air India bid farewell to one of its last Boeing 747 aircraft from Mumbai airport, marking the end of an era.
• The aircraft, named Agra, was de-registered by the DGCA last year and had its "Air India" titles and logos removed.
• The pilots performed a symbolic "Wing Wave" move, a tradition reserved for retiring flights, adding an emotional touch to the farewell.
• An aviation historian highlighted the significance of the event, noting the temporary American registration assigned to facilitate the aircraft's final departure.
• In April 2022, the DGCA de-registered four Boeing 747 jumbo jets that had not been in operation since February 2020, following Tata Group's takeover of Air India.
• The fate of the retired Air India Boeing 747s involves selling them to foreign companies, likely for conversion into freighters for cargo transport over long distances.
• Two of the Boeing 747s will undergo disassembly in Mumbai to salvage their parts, extending their lifecycle and repurposing components as spares or scrap metal.
• The disassembly process, involving approximately 800 to 1,000 recyclable parts, primarily made from metal alloys and composite materials, aims to contribute to sustainability efforts in the aviation industry.

According to insights from Fortune Business Insights, commercial aircraft like the Boeing 747 are comprised of approximately 800 to 1,000 recyclable parts, primarily made from metal alloys and composite materials. At aircraft recycling centers, non-metallic parts with no recycling value are discarded, major components are dismantled, and metal alloy parts are sorted based on their composition. This meticulous disassembly process ensures that the legacy of these iconic aircraft continues, albeit in a different form, contributing to sustainability efforts within the aviation industry.