Negus and Cotswold Airport
Negus has a remarkable story.
At the start of 2020, British Airways announced the early retirement of its Boeing 747 fleet following the widespread disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. For many aviation enthusiasts, it marked the end of an era.
Just a year earlier, British Airways had celebrated its centenary by repainting three of its most iconic 747s in heritage liveries: BOAC, Landor and Negus. These aircraft were a tribute to the airline’s history, and among them was G-CIVB in the striking Negus design.
After six weeks of negotiations, it was confirmed that G-CIVB would avoid the scrapyard and instead find a permanent home at Cotswold Airport.
Negus arrived in October 2020 to a hugely warm reception, welcomed by crowds of enthusiasts who had gathered to watch this legendary aircraft begin a new chapter.
From there, work began to give the aircraft a new purpose. Carefully transformed into a private hire venue and corporate events space, Negus was adapted to operate on mains power rather than her APU, with a professional AV system installed to support a wide range of events onboard.
On 11 February 2022, G-CIVB was officially opened by local councillor Joe Harris. Then, in March 2022, nearly a year and a half after arriving at the airport, Negus opened to the public, allowing visitors to step onboard and experience this iconic aircraft for themselves. Many of her original features remain preserved, giving guests a genuine sense of what she was like on the day she last flew.
Since opening, Negus has welcomed thousands of visitors through public tours, private events and special occasions. We are proud to be the long-term home of this beautiful Queen of the Skies, and to share her with both aviation enthusiasts and new generations discovering her for the first time.
Regular tours...
Since March 2022, Negus has been open to the public for self-guided tours most Wednesdays and Saturdays, subject to availability.
Take a self-guided tour around the aircraft, observing all the original features left in place by British Airways before exploring our new events section in the economy cabin.
Cockpit tours....
On very limited days, the Flight Deck is opened for the public to view.
Tickets for these days are very limited and must be pre-booked via the link below. Regular tours do not take place on these days, only Cockpit tickets are able to be purchased for these selected dates.
In addition to being able to go in the cockpit, the rest of the aircraft will be open as usual for a self-guided tour.
Tour FAQs
A list of frequently asked questions and their answers to help make your visit as smooth as possible.
Negus has been open to the public since March 2022. She is open for public tours most Wednesdays and Saturdays, dependent on availability.
Please check the booking website for updated tour dates and times.
In addition to public tours, Negus is also an events venue. Tours are unable to take place when a private booking is onboard, which is why some dates are unavailable.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate cockpit visits on a regular public tour session.
We have installed a Perspex screen to allow visitors to see the entire flight deck, just not actually go inside.
Limited Cockpit Open days are available. Please check the booking website for these dates.
If no dates are available, then none are taking place during that period.
Yes, there is a range of merchandise available to purchase both onsite and online. Click here for more details and to buy online.
Please contact us on events@cotswoldairport.com if you need to visit at a different time than stated on your ticket. We will do our best to accommodate you, however, it is subject to availability.
As per the terms and conditions signed upon booking, tickets are non-refundable/transferrable. It is not possible to alter the date of the booking or get a refund.
Due to the nature of the aircraft, we are unable to offer disabled access.
The aircraft is accessed by a via a set of airstairs approximately 2 stories high, so those with mobility issues may struggle.
Although the airfield and our café are dog friendly, unfortunately no dogs are allowed onboard the aircraft.
Support/assistance dogs are exempt from this rule.
There is a card machine on the gate, so tickets can be purchased upon arrival. However, pre-booking is advised due to limited spaces available. Entry is not guaranteed on the day unless you have a valid ticket.
