Quantcast

The lasting legacy of the Boeing 747-100s that escaped the scrapyard

Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Brazilian airline Azul to go 'back to basics' after challenging 2024
Airlines cancel flights as air travel to ‘grind to complete halt’ this week ahead of major strike action in Europe
Dramatic moment American Airlines plane diverted to Rome is escorted by fighter jets after mid-air bomb threat
Jetstar Faces Major Backlash as Nationwide System Outage Causes Travel Chaos, Stranding Passengers and Disrupting Flights Across the Australian Airline Industry
Sudden oil supply outages creating turbulence for airline industry
Southwest's layoffs dent its worker-first culture
Abu Dhabi's long-haul carrier Etihad Airways sees record $476 million profit in 2024
The lasting legacy of the Boeing 747-100s that escaped the scrapyard
Policy
Webp received 993558712965887
Boeing 747-100s | Wikipedia

The Boeing 747-100 series, known for its widebody design, first launched with Pan American World Airways in 1970. Although production ended in 2023, several models remain in use with cargo carriers, and some managed to avoid being scrapped. The original series has largely exited passenger operations, although certain airlines like Air China, Lufthansa, Korean Air, and Rossiya Airlines still operate them.

Recent data from ch-aviation highlights four unique Boeing 747-100 variants not scrapped. A well-known prototype, the "City of Everett," resides at Seattle's Museum of Flight. Built as a testbed and making its first flight in February 1969, it contributed significantly to Boeing, including tests for the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine. Its last flight was in 1995, and it clocked a total of 5,300 flight hours.

At Laurinburg-Maxton Airport lies an old Northwest Airlines Boeing 747-100, registered as N603US. Despite entering service in May 2010, it hasn't flown since 1998 and remains in a state described variably as "stored" or "retired."

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Iran Air's remaining Boeing 747-100, registered EP-IAM, first flew in 1979. It faced storage at Imam Khomeini International Airport since 2014 due to Iran's severe aviation industry restrictions following political sanctions.

In Saudi Arabia, ex-Saudia Boeing 747-100, registered HZ-AIG, last flew in 2006 and resides now in storage at Jeddah Airport. Although younger than some later variants, it is among the few original models in existence.

The Boeing 747-100 series, originally designed with a limited upper-deck lounge, transitioned to premium seating and later included more upper deck windows. No specific freighter version was developed, though many were converted over time. The 747 family, reaching 1,574 units across variants, left an indelible mark, helped by its widespread commercial success.

Its decline marked the shift to smaller aircraft models, though its production lasted longer than the Airbus A380. The final A380 and 747 deliveries occurred in 2021 and 2023, respectively. U.S. airlines now eschew larger models, including newer offerings such as the Boeing 777X, which have found more receptive overseas markets.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

UPS has operated one of the longest direct air cargo routes in the United States since 2018, connecting Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky with Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates.

Aug 2, 2025

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is the largest version of the 737 family, designed to compete with the Airbus A321neo.

Aug 2, 2025

Russian airline Aeroflot reported significant flight disruptions on Monday, July 28, due to a failure in its information systems.

Aug 2, 2025

After more than four years, American Airlines will reintroduce its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on the New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) route starting October 6.

Aug 2, 2025

The Airbus A321XLR, which entered service in late 2024, is now the longest-range narrowbody aircraft available.

Aug 2, 2025

The Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 are the only commercial jetliners with a partial or full second passenger deck, and both have left a significant mark on aviation history.

Aug 2, 2025