British Airways, the official airline partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is emblazoning ‘One Year to Go’ onto the belly of an Airbus A318 aircraft, to celebrate the milestone 365-day countdown to the start of the Olympic Games

Flight ‘BA001’ from London City Airport to New York will display the celebratory message on its underbelly, as it departs at 1.05pm expected to fly past the Olympic Park on July 27.

It is expected that the message will be visible to those in parts of East London and at the Olympic Park – footage will also be made available at youtube.com/flybritishairways.

Garry Copeland, British Airways director of engineering, said: “This is the first time in the history of British Airways that we have branded the underbelly of an aircraft with a celebratory message. We hope it will bring a real sense of excitement to the Olympic Park and people living around the area.

“With the countdown underway, British Airways is preparing to welcome the world to Great Britain in 2012.”

Customers will not miss the celebrations either – British Airways Captains will highlight that there’s only One Year to Go until the 2012 Games to customers on board flights on the day.

British Airways ambassador and Olympic Gold medalist Denise Lewis was at London City Airport to unveil the aircraft and said: “The countdown to the London 2012 Games has finally taken off, and I’m proud to be part of it. It’s fantastic to mark the occasion with a celebratory message on a BA aircraft flying over East London.”

British Airways will be flying customers in from more that 150 destinations worldwide for the London 2012 Games. With its close links to the Olympic Park, London City Airport is well placed for the 2012 Games, along with Heathrow Terminal 5 – one of the official gateways to the Games, and home of British Airways.

The airline is also reminding customers that the countdown is on for the BA Great Britons Programme, with entries closing today (July 27). The programme offers career-defining opportunities to three talented Brits in the fields of food, film and art, with mentoring from Heston Blumenthal, Richard E Grant and Tracey Emin – for further information, visit; www.greatbritons.ba.com

British Airways is proud to be the official airline partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Footage of the aircraft can be viewed shortly at: www.youtube.com/britishairways

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