Boeing reportedly will stop making 747 Jumbo Jets for good, after they complete the last of the 16 aircraft currently on order.
The final 747 is now expected to roll off the line in the next two years or so, after which time the type will have been in production for more than five decades.
Just 16 B747s Are On Order
Boeing has 16 unfilled orders to date, all B747-8 freighters. United Parcel Service (UPS) has 12 of these.
The Boeing 747 will likely still remain in the skies for decades, as it has become increasingly popular among cargo airlines. Three carriers, Air China, Korean Air and Lufthansa all operate the latest B747-8 passenger models.
Boeing’s “Queen of the Skies” debuted in 1970, a gamble that paid off and transformed travel but almost bankrupted the company. The Boeing 747 went on to rack up 1,571 orders over the decades, second among wide-body jets only to Boeing’s 777.
Launching My New Book Air747
I will be launching my latest all 747 book Air747 on Sept 15th; with over 160 pages of 747 adventures across all variants, to celebrate the most recognised aircraft of our time.
The two dash eights that will become presidential transports were white tails, built a couple of years ago and in storage. Aren’t the remaining 16 airframes all to be freighters?
On Feb 17, 2020, you did mention that a US start up carrier Air Avatar , plan to buy up to 30 B 747-8 for their new West East coast operations. Can you please update on this new venture and I hope this can extend the life of B747 program by few years
Avatar Air is a paper airline.
Bummer ! Maybe in the coming year or so Boeing could arrange some up close & personal tours (different than the regular tour) of the final 747 assembly line? And allow photography ! ?
Sam, Very very exciting to hear about the AIR 747 Book launch.. Are there sample pages that you can share?
You will get it around 15th Sep!
My “go to plane from SEA-ATL for over 20 years!
I have missed you terribly already!
Flew the final voyage of one from ORD-ATL a few years ago.
It was very emotional for everyone on board.
A sad day.
Time and technology marches on but not necessarily for the better.
I’ll be taking my Prozac when the final day comes.
A sad day nonetheless.
You wrote all the remaining 747s to be built are freighters but won’t two of them be the new Air Force One(s)? Or are these shells considered the same as the cargo variant?
You’re right. 2 of them are Air Force One.