Quantcast

Boeing 747: Current status and future outlook

Airline praises pilots in crash-landing where both died but nearly half the passengers survived
Mexico state airline to buy five Embraer planes next year
Airline Stocks Led The Travel Industry's Record 2024 Rally. Here's What's Next.
It’s beginning to look like another record for holiday travel
Qatar Airways cleans up at the World Travel Awards
All of the strikes at European airports this winter – find out if you are affected
Meet the CEO trying to turn around Air India, the 92-year-old airline with a pile of problems
Skiplagging: Unpacking the Risky Travel Trend That Involves Tricking Airlines
Qantas engineers walk off job on one of the busiest travel days of the year
South Korea to safeguard competition after Korean Air, Asiana merger
China Southern returns to Adelaide
Global Airline Industry Revenues Forecast To Top $1 Trillion For First Time In 2025
EasyJet to launch six new routes from the UK next year with £24 flights
Here's Why Analysts Say It's a Good Time to Buy Airline Stocks
A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
EasyJet reveals plans for new flights from regional UK airport next summer
Airlines not switching quickly enough to green jet fuel, study says
Alaska Airlines tech issue briefly grounds planes in Seattle, disrupts bookings on Cyber Monday
US Senate panel criticizes rising airline seat fees, will call execs to testify
Spirit’s Demise Is a Lesson in ‘Airline-o-nomics’
Inside BA’s new first-class suites: £800 an hour for most private seat
Focus: US airline flight crews confident and angry as unions seek richer contracts
Hawaiian Airlines Eliminates Widebody Route Amid Alaska Airlines Merger
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?
Delta CEO says the Trump administration will reverse government ‘overreach’ seen under Biden
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy: How will it affect your travel plans?
British Airways yet to identify cause of latest IT meltdown
Delta Airlines Will Start Serving Shake Shack Cheeseburgers Next Month
Boeing 747: Current status and future outlook
Policy
Webp b747 1
Boeing 747 | Wikipedia

Boeing has constructed a total of 1,573 Boeing 747 aircraft, including two Air Force One models pending delivery. The iconic aircraft known as the "Queen of the Skies" ceased production in 2023 when the final unit was delivered to Atlas Air. Despite its retirement from passenger service by major airlines like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines in 2017, some Boeing 747s continue to operate, primarily as freighters.

"The Boeing 747 Jumbo first entered service in 1969 with Pan Am and soon became an icon of the airline and the Jet Age," notes industry observers. The aircraft was initially designed for passenger use but has found new life as a freighter, with several retired passenger planes converted for cargo operations.

Today, only four airlines—Korean Air, Air China, Lufthansa, and Rossiya—continue to operate scheduled passenger flights using Boeing 747s. Korean Air uses five out of its sixteen Jumbos for passenger services. Meanwhile, Lufthansa remains the largest operator with a fleet of twenty-seven Boeing 747s dedicated to passenger transport.

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.

A significant portion of the remaining operational fleet consists of older variants such as the Boeing 747-400 and newer models like the Boeing 747-8. Atlas Air leads as the largest operator with sixty-one Jumbos in service, while UPS follows closely with forty-three units.

Of all Boeing 747s built, approximately twenty-nine percent remain active today. While many have been scrapped or lost in accidents over time, others have been preserved or repurposed for various uses. For instance, at Space Center Houston's Independence Plaza, visitors can view a replica space shuttle mounted on one of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

The future sees these aircraft continuing their role predominantly as freighters and special mission planes even after their rival Airbus A380 Superjumbos are retired from service.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Ericelda Melendez has been recognized for her leadership and teamwork at Flying Food Group's LAI facility.

Jul 31, 2025

Our facility in Denver recently marked a significant milestone by celebrating 11 years of dedicated service from Armando de Santiago.

Jul 31, 2025

Allegiant Air has announced the addition of seven new nonstop routes and the commencement of service at Fort Myers (RSW), expanding its all-nonstop network.

Jul 30, 2025

Flying Food Group has announced open positions and is inviting candidates to apply online or by email, according to a post on X. According to Food Logistics, Flying Food Group is a leading provider of airline catering and food solutions,...

Jul 30, 2025

Japan Airlines has announced a limited-time sale on overseas flight and hotel packages, featuring discounts for Hawaii and group savings.

Jul 30, 2025

Alaska Airlines has announced the return of its annual fall sale, offering hundreds of one-way flights starting at $49 or 4,000 miles for a limited time.

Jul 30, 2025