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.