As of 2026, only one airline still flies the Boeing 747 commercially: Asiana Airlines, operating a single 747-400 on limited routes.
What airline still flies the 747?
Asiana Airlines remains the only commercial airline operating the Boeing 747 as of 2026, flying a single 747-400 (registration HL7428) on a seasonal Seoul–Changchun route.
Atlas Air still hauls freight with the 747-8F, but no other passenger airline lists the type in active service. Korean Air flew the 747-8 until late 2023, when it retired its last passenger Queen of the Skies. Honestly, if you want to fly on this legend, your choices are painfully limited—check Asiana’s seasonal schedules or hunt down a museum flight.
What is the oldest 747 still flying?
The oldest active Boeing 747 is a 747-200B delivered to the Saudi Royal Flight on November 9, 1977, making it roughly 48.5 years old as of 2026.
Registered HZ-HM1, this plane still handles royal and VIP flights. While passenger airlines have mostly sent their older 747s to the boneyard, governments and cargo carriers keep early models alive thanks to their rugged build and low flight cycles. The 747-200B is basically a museum piece on wings—it rolled off the line nearly a decade before the 747-400 even existed.
Do Boeing still make 747?
Boeing stopped building 747s after delivering the final 747-8F to Atlas Air in January 2023—no new 747s have come out since then.
The last passenger 747-8 left the factory for Korean Air in late 2022, closing the book on 54 years of continuous production. These days, Boeing’s putting all its energy into the 777X and 787 lines. The 747 may be gone, but spare parts and maintenance will keep the fleet flying for decades, especially for cargo and VIP operators.
Why was the 747 discontinued?
The 747 was discontinued because COVID-19 cratered air travel demand and four-engine jets cost too much to run.
Boeing saw airlines losing interest in big quad-jets and shifting toward fuel-sipping twins like the 787 and A350. Final orders got canceled or swapped for freighters as carriers chased lower costs per seat instead of sheer passenger capacity. The pandemic just sped up retirements that were already in motion.
Why is 747 retired?
The Boeing 747 is retired because its four-engine setup and high operating costs can’t keep up with modern twin-engine jets.
Newer planes like the 777-9 and A350-1000 burn less fuel, need fewer crew, and run quieter. Airlines have moved away from hub-and-spoke models toward point-to-point routes, so they don’t need massive capacity anymore. The 747’s upper deck and hump? Not the selling point they once were in the 2020s.
How much is a scrap 747 worth?
A stripped 747 airframe can fetch $35,000 to $55,000 in scrap metal value, depending on aluminum and titanium prices.
That price swings with metal market fluctuations. Once you pull out the engines, avionics, and interior bits, you’re mostly left with aluminum and steel. Some buyers dismantle retired 747s for spares, others sell them for scrap. You’ll find listings on aircraft trading sites like AVBuyer or even eBay if you’re hunting for parts or a whole frame.
What is the oldest plane still flying?
The oldest aircraft still flying is the Bleriot XI, built in 1909, which still takes to the skies regularly in Hudson Valley, New York.
This flimsy wood-and-fabric monoplane flew before World War I and has been lovingly restored and maintained for over a century. It’s not just a dusty museum piece—it actually flies at airshows and private events. Most other early 20th-century planes barely survive as static displays due to fragility and missing certified parts.
What happened to the very first 747?
The first Boeing 747, known as RA001, now lives permanently at The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, after its final flight in 1995.
RA001 served as a testbed, racking up over 5,300 flight hours. After retirement, it was donated to the museum, restored between 2013 and 2014, and dressed in its original flight-test colors. Today, it’s one of the most popular exhibits at the museum and a living piece of 747 history.
Is Boeing 777 bigger than 747?
The Boeing 777 is longer and has a wider wingspan than the 747-8, but it carries fewer passengers and has less total volume.
The 777-9 stretches 251 feet long with a 235-foot wingspan, while the 747-8 is slightly shorter at 250 feet but stands taller with its iconic upper deck. The 777 trades raw capacity for range and efficiency—perfect for today’s airline networks. The 747 still wins on sheer size and presence.
Which is bigger 747 or A380?
The Airbus A380 is larger than the Boeing 747 in wingspan, length, passenger capacity, and total volume.
The A380’s wingspan hits 262 feet compared to the 747-8’s 224 feet. It can jam in up to 853 passengers in high-density layouts, while the 747-8 typically seats 410–605. The A380’s full-length double deck lets airlines pack in more people efficiently, though it hasn’t sold as well as the 747 did.
Can a 747 take off with 2 engines?
A Boeing 747 cannot safely take off with only two engines under normal circumstances.
All four engines are needed to generate enough thrust for takeoff, especially when the plane’s heavy or at a high-altitude airport. Even losing two engines on the same wing would create so much uneven thrust that controlling the plane during takeoff would be nearly impossible. The FAA sets minimum engine requirements based on weight and runway length. Engine-out procedures only allow continuing takeoff if the plane still meets performance targets.
Is the 747 dying?
Yes, the Boeing 747 is effectively dead in commercial passenger service as of 2026, with only one passenger 747 still flying.
Every major airline has retired its 747s, leaving Asiana’s single 747-400 on a seasonal route as the last holdout. The final passenger 747-8 left the factory in 2022, and production stopped in 2023. A handful of cargo and government operators still fly the type, but the passenger 747 era has officially ended.
What replaced 747?
The Boeing 777-9 and Airbus A350-1000 have taken the 747’s place in long-haul service, offering better fuel efficiency and lower operating costs.
These twin-engine jets deliver comparable or even higher capacity in some layouts, plus seriously better range and efficiency. Airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines swapped their 747 fleets for A350s and 777-300ERs. The 777X program carries on the 747’s legacy with advanced composites and GE9X engines.
Did a 747 ever crash?
Yes, several Boeing 747s have been involved in fatal accidents since 1970, including TWA Flight 800 (1996) and Air India Flight 182 (1985).
The 747 actually has a pretty solid safety record for an older jet, but it’s seen its share of catastrophic failures from mechanical problems, terrorism, and pilot mistakes. According to the NTSB and Aviation Safety Network, at least 61 747s have been lost in hull-loss accidents. Most surviving 747s are either grounded or retired, so the risk has dropped.
Why is Delta retiring the 777?
Delta is retiring its 777 fleet to upgrade to more efficient planes like the Airbus A350 and A330neo.
The airline plans to ditch all 777s by 2026, replacing them with A350-900s that sip 21% less fuel per seat. Delta wants a simpler fleet, lower maintenance hassles, and to hit sustainability targets. The 777s are reliable, but they’re older and thirstier than today’s twins, making them too expensive to run in a post-pandemic world obsessed with cost control and cutting emissions.
