Quantcast

Boeing 747: Current status and future outlook

Flight Centre tips ‘price war’ as first direct Melbourne to LA Delta flights go on sale
FAA reverses course on meeting prohibition, blaming rogue employee
British Airways tweaks frequent flyer scheme after backlash
US court blocks Biden administration's airline fee disclosure rule
JetBlue Issues Dim Outlook But Execs Remain Confident in Turnaround Plan
Delta to Resume Tel Aviv Flights April 1
Boeing CEO Ortberg outlines 2025 priorities after heavy losses
Storm Eowyn: Thousands of trains, flights and ferries cancelled as 100mph wind batters UK
Indian carrier long haul: IndiGo returns to profitability, plans long haul flights
These Frequent Fliers Are Done With Loyalty Programs
JetBlue accepting Venmo as payment method for flights purchased through mobile app
United Airlines stock rallies on results, as growing demand wasn’t just about premium seats
Delta Adds Another Alaska Route
Southwest to Reduce Pilot Head Count at Several Bases
Dublin Airport savings boost for holidaymakers – but passengers need to be quick
American Halts CRJ-200 Operations
Shanghai Airlines to Launch Casablanca Route
Delta employees to receive an average five weeks of pay in annual profit sharing
Akasa Air faces DGCA heat for lapses; warning letter issued to airline's accountable manager
Indigo Eyes European Market Amid Intensifying Competition with Air India
Air India to operate daily Delhi-Prayagraj flights for Maha Kumbh
Engine maker agrees to compensate WizzAir for grounded planes
Turkish Airlines’ flights are riddled with bedbugs, passengers say
British Airways frequent flyers react to Executive Club changes
Inside the short-lived, men-only flights where kids and women were banned but cigar and pipe smoking were rife
China steps up drive to break Boeing, Airbus grip on plane market
Heathrow’s New York service clings to spot in top aviation routes
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
A record number of people are expected to fly over the holidays. That's good for travel stocks, but not for passengers.
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

Nikhil Ravishankar has been named the next Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand.

Jul 30, 2025

Air New Zealand has introduced a new Regional Event Sponsorship programme to support and expand emerging events in the 20 regions it serves.

Jul 29, 2025

Emirates has announced a series of new commercial appointments in several key markets across Africa and Asia, effective August 1.

Jul 29, 2025

Alaska Air Group has announced the leadership team that will oversee the combined operations of Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines in Honolulu, as the two carriers move toward securing a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation...

Jul 29, 2025

Flying Food Group announced on LinkedIn that it recognized its culinary team in celebration of National Culinarians Day.

Jul 28, 2025

Google Flights continues to expand its offerings, according to a recent discussion between The Points Guy and James Byers, group product manager for travel at Google.

Jul 28, 2025