G-BDXG Boeing 747-236B (MSN 21536/328) of British Airways, named ‘City of Oxford’ at Perth Airport – Monday 27 October 1986. The aircraft was operating flight BA9 and was delayed departing London-Heathrow and didn’t arrive at Perth until 4:20am. It taxied onto the new International Apron by mistake, but was instructed to go to the old international terminal on the west side of the airport, because Qantas wanted to be the first to use the new terminal. G-BDXG therefore operated the last international flight to use the old international terminal. This delayed arrival caused a problem, as some of the ground staff had to remain at the old terminal to handle this flight, whilst the rest relocated to the new terminal to await the first aircraft to use that terminal. G-BDXG departed as BA9 to Brisbane and Auckland at 5:40am. Photo © Peter Eyre

1 thought on “G-BDXG Boeing 747-236B (MSN 21536/328) of British Airways, named ‘City of Oxford’ at Perth Airport – Monday 27 October 1986. The aircraft was operating flight BA9 and was delayed departing London-Heathrow and didn’t arrive at Perth until 4:20am. It taxied onto the new International Apron by mistake, but was instructed to go to the old international terminal on the west side of the airport, because Qantas wanted to be the first to use the new terminal. G-BDXG therefore operated the last international flight to use the old international terminal. This delayed arrival caused a problem, as some of the ground staff had to remain at the old terminal to handle this flight, whilst the rest relocated to the new terminal to await the first aircraft to use that terminal. G-BDXG departed as BA9 to Brisbane and Auckland at 5:40am. Photo © Peter Eyre”

David Wilkins says:

13 July 2022 at 3:14 pm

I can confirm all of the above details , as I was indeed one of the remaining staff members who
stayed on duty at the “old terminal ” to deal with this delayed service and in fact checked in the
last passenger , however I believe that the aircraft in fact flew direct to AKL and not via BNE !
the first aircraft to us the new terminal was an inbound Qantas QF078 from HKG/BKK
David Wilkins

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