Airport faces challenge with disposal of former Boeing 747 hotel

A former Boeing 747, once converted into the Jumbo Stay Hotel near Stockholm Arlanda Airport, is now facing an uncertain future after the hotel ceased operations earlier this year. The aircraft had been transformed into a unique lodging experience for aviation enthusiasts but was forced to close following a bankruptcy filing by its operator.

Swedavia, the state-owned company responsible for operating and developing Sweden's airports, now bears the responsibility of disposing of the 747. The aircraft is considered abandoned due to a lack of funds in the bankruptcy estate to facilitate its removal. Daniel Svensson, Bankruptcy Administrator, noted that "there was no money in the bankruptcy estate that allowed us to handle the removal of an airplane."

The Boeing 747-200 has a storied past, having initially been delivered to Singapore Airlines in 1976. It went through several operators before being retired from commercial service and repurposed as a hotel. However, declining revenue and increased competition led to its closure on March 17.