The flight is heading to Los Angeles, where the Jumbo Jet will later depart to a scrap yard in the Mojave desert.
In common with British Airways, the pandemic has led Qantas to bring forward the withdrawal from service of its 747 fleet in favour of more fuel-efficient twin jets.
The withdrawal of the 747 is a poignant moment for the airline, as it was this aircraft which made travel from the UK to Australia affordable and a one-stop journey. The 747 also made history in 1989, when a delivery flight flew non-stop from London to Sydney.
“It’s hard to overstate the impact that the 747 had on aviation and a country as far away as Australia,” said Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce.
The Qantas farewell comes a week after BA confirmed it would retire all 31 of its 747s immediately, instead of the planned 2024 exit.
