Boeing 747

By Guy Norris
The program’s termination comes after years of dwindling sales, the development of the twin-engined 777X, and the pandemic, which took a toll on widebodies.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris, Jens Flottau
Listen in as Aviation Week editors reflect on the 747's beginning and its legacy.
Check 6

Aviation Week published a four-page photo spread of the 747 rollout in 1968, along with a glowing editorial about the new jet.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
As the last Boeing 747-8 leaves its birthplace, Aviation Week looks at how design features of the first widebody have shaped and influenced the industry.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Jens Flottau
No other aircraft has been as important for trade and intercontinental travel as the Boeing 747. When Airbus finally launched a competitor, it was too late.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The last undelivered 747-8Is are being converted into presidential aircraft for the USAF under a nearly $7 billion development project, including cost overruns.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Lori Ranson
The U.S. Export-Import Bank has committed to guarantee a $304 million loan from JP Morgan to cargo operator Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings to finance aircraft exports.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Guy Norris
Boeing has staged the left wing for the last 747-8F freighter onto the production line at Everett, Washington, marking the build-up for the aircraft’s final assembly process and close out of the historic 747 line later in 2022.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Ben Goldstein
The first delivery is scheduled for November 2022, with additional handovers expected through 2023.
Airlines & Lessors

By Chen Chuanren
Korean Air and Seoul National University have been commissioned by the Republic of Korea Air Force to explore using the Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft for an air launch system, similar to Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne.
Space

By David Casey
Mainline capacity is being increased on routes to the Balearic island, while Lufthansa’s new long-haul subsidiary is adding Zimbabwe to its network.
Airports & Networks

By Chen Chuanren
China Airlines ceased Boeing 747-400 operations on March 20 following a farewell flight over Japan, retiring the type after 28 years of service.
Airlines & Lessors

By Victoria Moores
UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic is expecting to perform its final Boeing 747 flight on Dec. 16 and has announced plans to resume operations from Manchester, England, on Dec. 5 after a nine-month break.
Airlines & Lessors

By Chen Chuanren
Thai Airways has put a total of 34 aircraft up for sale, including all of its Boeing 747-400, 777-200 and 777-300, as the flag-carrier turns to more fuel-efficient aircraft for the handful of international flights it now operates.
Airlines & Lessors

By Sean Broderick
Boeing is working on updating 747 flight computer software to eliminate an issue introduced in the software’s most recent version that causes both of the aircraft’s computers to reset in-flight.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Kurt Hofmann
International Airlines Group (IAG) has phased out the last of Iberia’s Airbus A340s and begun retiring British Airways’ (BA) entire Boeing 747-400 fleet, the group reported Aug. 17.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By David Casey
As British Airways’ fleet of Boeing 747s becomes the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, Routes assesses the impact on the carrier’s network.
Airports & Networks

By Guy Norris
Boeing declines to confirm reports that it is preparing to end the five-decade long production run of the 747, but Aviation Week understands key
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Sean Broderick
Boeing has updated a 747-400 non-normal checklist following evidence from a UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report that showed a British Airways (BA) crew confused by its verbiage initiated an unneeded stall-recovery procedure while troubleshooting an issue.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Ben Goldstein
Atlas Air will park four Boeing 747-400 converted freighters this year and return a fifth to a lessor, moves intended to counteract falling yields and utilization rates caused by softening macroeconomic trends.
Air Transport

By David Casey
Australia’s flag carrier Qantas is looking to grow its international network with an order for six additional Dreamliners as it accelerates the retirement of its last six Boeing 747s.
Airports & Networks

By David Casey
Delta Air Lines is bidding farewell to one of its most iconic aircraft, the last Boeing 747-400 to be retired by a US air carrier.
Airports & Networks

By David Casey
From 1970s costumes to an appearance from Oscar Munoz, Routesonline rounds up the best tweets and images as United Airlines bid farewell to its last Boeing 747.
Airports & Networks

By David Casey
Boeing’s iconic 747 jumbo jet has been a staple of United’s fleet for 47 years, but the US airline has bid farewell to the Queen of the Skies for good.
Airports & Networks

By David Casey
It has been a passenger favourite since its launch in 1970, but the Boeing 747’s days appear to be ever more numbered as airlines continue to modernise their fleets.
Airports & Networks