Description

Alpha India – a 757 special in so many ways to British aviation enthusiasts. G-LSAI was the last British registered 757 to operate a commercial service whilst being the oldest active passenger ‘75’ in the world! Being the 150th Boeing 757-21B produced, this aircraft begun its life as B-2803 with CAAC Airlines in November 1987, however the aircraft didn’t wear its socialist livery for long  as in 1988, with restructuring of Chinese civil aviation, CAAC split into six separate airlines and ‘2803’ went to the Guangzhou based – China Southern Airlines where it operated until 2006 before the airline retired its ‘pencil’ fleet. In 2006 the aircraft was bought by Jet2.com and re-registered as G-LSAI to which Alpha India had an impressive career of over 18 years with the British carrier. At 37.4 years old she began to show her age but remained the most desired 757 in the fleet amongst aviation enthusiasts having distinct overhead passenger units reminding her passengers of her former career in China. On 5th of January 2025 operating LS812 from Geneva; LSAI completed her final commercial push back bound for Manchester, piloted by Captain – David Rix and Charlie Collier, with her final flight  bound for St. Athan, Wales, on January 8th, where she was bid farewell by Manchester airport support by hundreds of enthusiasts to say farewell to Alpha India as she rotated at 11:50 from runway 23 Right for one final flight.