In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, British Airways made a historic decision to retire its entire fleet of Boeing 747s, an iconic aircraft once hailed as the "Queen of the Skies." Today, several of those planes lie grounded, not in a bustling airport hangar or international graveyard, but in the heart of the English countryside.

Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, surrounded by rolling hills and postcard-perfect villages, has become the final resting place for multiple Boeing 747-400s, turning the rural airfield into an unusual aviation graveyard. A video shared on social media platform X has brought renewed attention to the site, showing the massive aircraft against the region's scenic beauty.

British Airways confirmed the retirement of its 31-strong 747 fleet in July 2020, citing the sharp drop in long-haul travel caused by the global health crisis.

The airline described the move as "with great sadness," acknowledging the aircraft's historic role in shaping the carrier's international network.

"It is unlikely our magnificent 'Queen of the Skies' will ever operate commercial services for British Airways again," the company said in a statement at the time.

"As we head into the future, we will operate more flights on modern, fuel-efficient aircraft such as the A350 and 787, to help us achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050."

Aviation expert John Strickland told PA News Agency that British Airways' reliance on transatlantic travel made the fleet's grounding inevitable. "The US market doesn't really exist at the moment," he said.

"Without the US peak summer programme operating, the fleet was likely to remain grounded for some time."

Though many of the aircraft now sit idle, one has taken on a new role. A 747 known as Negus, named after its retro British Airways livery, has been converted into a high-end events venue.

The aircraft, repainted in heritage colours as part of BA's 100-year anniversary in 2019, arrived at Cotswold Airport in October 2020.

Work to transform Negus began immediately. "We rewired the aircraft to operate on mains power and installed a full AV system," said a spokesperson from Cotswold Airport.

"The Economy cabin has been converted into a unique events space, equipped with industry-grade lighting and sound equipment."

The venue is now available to host everything from weddings to corporate events, an unexpected second life for one of aviation's most beloved aircraft.

British Airways' 747-400s could carry up to 345 passengers and fly at speeds of over 600mph.