The airline’s classic 1974-1980 "Negus" design will be reintroduced on one of its Boeing 747 aircraft in the coming weeks.

The aircraft is currently at BA’s paint bay in Dublin undergoing a complete makeover, which BA will debut later this month.

It is the last of four heritage liveries revived by BA since the start of the year.

Aircraft sporting colours of BA’s predecessors BOAC, BEA and Landor are currently operating a number of BA routes.

The 747-400, registration G-CIVB, will feature the first version of the Negus livery, which was prevalent after the merger of BOAC and BEA to create BA.

The Negus livery of 1974 was the first time an aircraft carried British Airways since 1939.

Following the repaint, the 747 will return to Heathrow to fly some of BA’s long-haul routes until it is taken out of service in 2022.

Alex Cruz, BA chairman and chief executive, said: “Rumours have been circulating for quite some time about this final livery, so it’s exciting to confirm it is the Negus design.

"It’s particularly significant because it’s the first design worn by the British Airways we all know today, with the distinctive lower case ‘a’ and union flag on the tailfin.”