The airline will open the doors to their last Boeing 747 “Queen of the Skies’ one last time on December 12th, 2020 for a charity pop-up dining experience. A limited number of tickets will be on sale at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, December 7th, 2020.
Today (December 4, 2020), Virgin Atlantic announced that they will open the doors one last time on their last retiring Boeing 747 ‘Queen of the Skies’ for a unique pop-up dining experience. A limited number of tickets will be available starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday December 7th, 2020. Aviation enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the ultimate 747 experience, including the opportunity to safely dine onboard in Upper Class. The carrier is replacing their fleet of Boeing 747s to make way for a younger, more sustainable fleet of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Speaking on the retirement of the carrier’s Boeing 747 fleet, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Customer and Operating Officer, Corneel Koster, said,
“The much-loved Boeing 747 has played an important role in Virgin Atlantic’s story. It carried our first passengers to New York 36 years ago on our inaugural flight and over the years has transported countless millions of holiday-makers and business travellers safely around the world. As we close this chapter and continue the transformation towards a cleaner, greener fleet, what better tribute than to showcase the Queen of the Skies one last time. I’m delighted we’re able to offer this opportunity to a lucky few to be part of aviation history, before we say our fond farewells to this iconic plane.”
The bespoke dining experience will be hosted at Virgin Atlantic’s hangar at London-Heathrow on December 12th, 2020 and visitors will receive a full aircraft tour, including areas rarely seen by the public, as well as a sumptuous three-course meal. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Trussell Trust. Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 pilots, cabin crew, and engineers will be on hand to provide first-hand accounts and anecdotes on life aboard the storied jumbo jet. During the three-hour event, guests will enjoy sipping champagne on the upper deck, savoring a three-course a-la-carte meal in the comfort of their own upper-class suite and have a photo taken in one of the aircraft’s iconic red engines.
Additionally, the lucky guests will hear first-hand from the airline’s pilots, including Yvonne Kershaw, the first female 747 Captain, about what life was like at the controls of the iconic aircraft. As previously mentioned, visitors will be able to tour parts of the aircraft not normally open to the public including crew rest areas, the cockpit and the airplane’s underbelly. Virgin Atlantic is committed to the health and safety of guests and team members, so due to COVID restrictions, only a very limited number of tickets will be available, to allow for social distancing.
Tickets will be available for £50, with all donations going to the Trussell Trust, from 9:00 a.m. on Monday December 7th, 2020 at https://virg.in/747experience. The Trussell Trust supports a network of food banks which provide emergency food and support and also campaigns for changes which will end the need for UK food bands.
Source: Virgin Atlantic