The UK's Royal Mail postal service is known for its unmistakable red and yellow color scheme. It is most often seen on the company's vans and lorries, with 15 Class 325 trains also bearing this livery. However, did you know that these famous colors were also once applied to an aircraft? Let's take a look at the story of the Royal Mail liveried Boeing 737, which flow Titan Airways in the 2000s and 2010s.

Originally a passenger aircraft

The aircraft that wore the Royal Mail livery was a being 737-300 with the registration G-ZAPV. According to data from ch-aviation.com, this particular example made its first flight in January 1990, making it over 32 years old today. It spent the first eight years of its life flying for Philippine Airlines under the registration EI-BZH.

Data from Planespotters.net shows that, while at Philippine Airlines, EI-BZH had a one-class 141-seat configuration. However, when it moved to UK carrier Go Fly in April 1998, this figure increased to 148 passengers. At this point, its registration became G-IGOC. Go Fly was British Airways' former low-cost brand.

Go Fly Boeing 737
The aircraft during its Go Fly years. Photo: JetPix via Wikimedia Commons

According to ATDB.aero, the aircraft then joined fellow British budget airline easyJet in July 2002. G-IGOC reportedly retained its Go livery, owing to an ongoing merger between the two carriers. The aircraft eventually left easyJet in November 2003. Its destination was Now Airlines, but, after this acquisition was canceled, its career took a rather different path, which began with a cargo conversion.

Converted to carry mail

The aircraft eventually fell into the hands of Titan Airways, who received it in February 2004. This UK charter operator flies both passenger and freight services, and elected to convert G-IGOC to serve the latter purpose. Titan operates overnight post flights for Royal Mail on two UK routes: Bournemouth-East Midlands and Exeter-London Stansted. The latter of these airports is home to Titan's HQ.

1280px-Royal_mail_jet_jersey_airport
G-ZAPV was also known to have visited the Channel Islands, with this photograph having been taken in Jersey. Photo: Danrok via Wikimedia Commons

Now registered as G-ZAPV, the newly converted 737-300 freighter was used to celebrate Royal Mail's partnership with Titan by painting it in the former's famous red and yellow livery. After its conversion, which took place in Dothan, Alabama over six months, G-ZAPV entered service as a freighter in August 2004.

G-ZAPV enjoyed the longest tenure of its career thus far at Titan, flying mail within the UK for more than nine years. This came to an in December 2013, just after Titan had agreed on a new contract with Royal Mail, with additional routes serving Belfast and Edinburgh. Following this, it has remained active in the UK cargo market.

Royal Mail Boeing 737
G-ZAPV visually celebrated Royal Mail's partnership with Titan Airways. Photo: Andrew Thomas via Flickr

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Still active today

After leaving Titan Airways, G-ZAPV joined fellow UK cargo carrier Atlantic Airlines in December 2013. Here, it took on the registration G-JMCT. Atlantic Airlines became known as West Atlantic UK in November 2017, and is a key British freight operator. The airline also operates mail flights to destinations such as Exeter. One of these made the headlines last year after a hard landing caused damage and delays.

G-JMCT is now more than 32 years old. However, with cargo operators often favoring older planes, this has allowed it to stay in service with West Atlantic. A quick look at data from FlightRadar24.com shows that it is primarily deployed between Edinburgh and London Stansted. That being said, recent weeks have also seen it visit Belfast, and even the Egyptian city of Aswan.

Edinburgh Stansted Map
Today, the aircraft's duties mainly see it fly nighttime rotations between London and Edinburgh. Image: FlightRadar24.com

Royal Mail's other aviation exploits

As it happens, having its own specially-liveried aircraft isn't the only way in which Royal Mail has looked to engage with aviation over the years. Indeed, as Simple Flying reported last May, it has also looked at trialing the use of crewless drones to deliver packages. In particular, it was targeting the Scilly Isles with this project.

A key focus of the trial program when it first came into place was delivering COVID-19 tests and PPE to the Scilly Isles, which are located just off the southwest coast of the UK mainland. The drones were reportedly able to carry up to 100kg of mail, which allowed some capacity for conventional parcels too. A key advantage is that they aren't reliant on tides, unlike boats, meaning that they could make the journey at any time.

Did you know about the Royal Mail liveried Boeing 737? Perhaps you've even seen it on your travels? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!