British Airways converts two B777s into freighters

British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) has converted two of its B777-200(ER)s into makeshift freighters, deploying them to Beijing Capital in order to ferry personal protective equipment back to the United Kingdom. The airline said in a press release that it removed all cabin features and passenger seats on board both aircraft. Besides PPE, the aircraft will also be used to carry other cargo, including food, medicine, and other commercial shipments. Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that G-YMMK (msn 30312) operated its first cargo flight from London Heathrow to Beijing on May 29 with G-YMMG (msn 30308) following on June 1. Both Boeing widebodies were deployed on revenue flights with passengers until mid-May and were subsequently converted into makeshift freighters at the carrier’s maintenance facility at Cardiff airport. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, British Airways continues to operate forty-three B777-200(ER)s and twelve B777-300(ER)s. It also has two remaining B777-200s on the ground. The IAG International Airlines Group subsidiary does not operate any dedicated freighter aircraft.