Boeing 747
Boeing 747

6 Airlines Still Fly the Boeing 747 Passenger Model in 2022

Sam Chui·
747Featured Stories

As most Boeing 747 operators have retired the "Queen of the Skies" many are wondering if they will ever be able to fly onboard this iconic aircraft again.

We have put together a comprehensive list of airlines still operating the Boeing 747 passenger model. List subject to further updates.

Air China

Air China, the flag carrier of the PRC, still operates passenger B747 aircraft.

In addition to operating the older -400 variant, Air China also operates the newer -8 Intercontinental model. An additional 747-8I aircraft is used for VIP and governmental transport.

Air China B747-400 climbing out of Beijing
Air China B747-400 climbing out of Beijing
Air China is still operating at least one B747-400 in the fleet (Reg B-2447)
Air China is still operating at least one B747-400 in the fleet (Reg B-2447)

Asiana Airlines

South Korea-based Asiana Airlines operates just one 747-400 in a passenger configuration (the remaining 10 airframes are all freighters). In its passenger configuration, Asiana's 747 features eight Premium Business Class seats in the nose.

Asiana Airlines B747-400
Asiana Airlines B747-400

HL-7428, the 24-year-old passenger model is the last B747-400 passenger model active in the fleet.

a screenshot of a flight schedule

Korean Air

Korean Air has 10 747-8 passenger model in the fleet. The Korean Air B747-8 currently flies between Seoul and Honolulu. It will also be deploying B747-8 between Seoul and Los Angeles on daily basis from July 1.

a blue and white airplane at an airport
a screenshot of a flight schedule
Review: Korean Air B747-8 First Class Hong Kong to Incheon

Lufthansa

As the largest operator of the 747 in the world, Lufthansa continues to use the aircraft as its long-haul workhorse. The German airline operates 27 passenger-configured 747s (eight -400 and nineteen -8).

a large airplane flying in the sky

Lufthansa B747-400 currently fly from Frankfurt to Vancouver, Toronto, Boston, Orlando, Mumbai and Bangaluru. I flew it in January from Dubai to Frankfurt.

Trip Report: Lufthansa B747-400 Business Class Dubai to Frankfurt

Lufthansa B747-8 currently flies from Frankfurt to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Mexico City, New York JFK, Washington D.C., Miami, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Delhi and Tokyo.

Trip Report: Lufthansa B747-8 First Class Experience + First Class Terminal

Mahan Air

Tehran-based Mahan Air has been operating their sole 747-400 (reg EP-MEE) between Beijing and Tehran lately.

a screenshot of a flight schedule

Mahan Air used to fly the world's last B747-300 passenger model but the plane have not moved since 2021.

Mahan Air B747-300 Business Class
Mahan Air B747-300 Business Class

Rossiya

Rossiya, a subsidiary of Aeroflot, currently operates four 747-400s (Reg: RA-73286, RA-73288, RA-73289 and RA-73290) with five others parked. The registration of its B747 has changed to RA- since the war broke out in February.

The airline makes use of its 747s on regular domestic flights between Moscow and Sochi every day.

an airplane with a tiger face on it
a screenshot of a computer

About My Book - Air747

a book with a picture of an airplane

The book series Air was born out of passion and devotion to aviation. This, the fourth, is dedicated to one plane, where the love started. The Boeing 747.

Air747 takes the reader on a journey through the story of the Jumbo Jet, from early Classics to the -400 and the stretched -8i, aboard airlines that span the globe. Fly with Sam on Asian powerhouses like Cathay Pacific, Japan ​Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Air China. To Europe on Lufthansa and British Airways. Meet Sam’s first love, United, and age-defying Iran Air’s 747SPs. Obscure operators are well-represented: Orient Thai, Kuwait, Rossiya, Air Pacific, Pakistan International, Mahan Air.

You can order one here.

Sam Chui

Sam Chui is one of the world's most established aviation and travel blogger, content creator and published author. He enjoys anything related to aviation and travel. His fascination with airplanes stemmed from visiting Kai Tak airport as a teenager. He has spent some of the happiest times of his life in the air.

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21 Responses

  1. I became a Flight Attendant in 1979…my first working flight was on Braniiff’s 747…I dead headed , and then worked first class back.
    My son is now a pilot for atlas cargo… So excited that he will fly the last 747!

    Reply

  2. I have flown on a TWA 747. In the late 1980’s from Kennedy airport to LHR. The flight turned out to be very eventful. About 2 hrs after we left JFK the pilot came on the intercom and informed us in a very calm, businesslike tone that we had just lost an engine, and we were going to make an unscheduled landing at Gander Airport Newfoundland. We made the landing, to a virtually inactive airport just after midnight, and de-boarded to an empty terminal. The only concession available was a waiting room near the duty free stores, and the airport staff quickly opened the snack bar and a duty free shop. We survived the night, and early the next morning a relief aircraft arrived , our luggage was transferred by Forklift to the replacement, and we were on our way in a few hours.

    Reply

    1. Hi Nico. I think we lost Pan Am in 1991. I wish someone would bring it back. Best Wishes to you. Sincerely, Tom P.S. Just curious but what city are you in?

  5. It was a really stupid idea to abandon the 747. She’s such an iconic airplane that she deserves to be around for as long as man can fly. The 747 and the Concorde are the most beautiful airplanes ever built. There’s really no valid reason behind getting rid of this great plane.

    The government better take immaculate care of the 2 new Airforce One Presidential aircraft, because there’s not going to be a means to replace them anymore. I would, however, like to know what is on Airforce One that’s so amazing that it cost over 5 billion just for two of them. That’s the cost of 5 B-2 bombers. Somehow I don’t see Airforce One as being nearly as sophisticated as those bombers are. And Trump claimed that he got us a better deal. COMPARED TO WHAT? At that price, these 747’s should be able to completely turn invisible when ever threatened. And it should come equipped with little Star Wars type androids that can make any in-flight repairs automatically, both inside and outside the plane. It should be able to fly up into space when ever needed to avoid detection when it’s invisibility wasn’t working. Just WHAT are the tax payers paying for that each plane cost 2.5 billion dollars?

    Reply

  8. My first flight on a 747 was on a Saturday
    evening to New York on Pan Am flight 103.
    Was very sad when it was brought down
    a couple of months later.
    Great plane !!

    Reply

  10. I fly a TWA 747 (unsure which model) in 1994 from Savannah GA to Kuwait City via NYC and Rome. I remember they to remove all of the Coke products and replace with Pepsi (or vice versa not remember). Something to do with one of them having Jewish ownership. Rode in 1st class the entire way. Was the safest flight I ever flew on. Everyone but myself and about 12 others were armed with M16s and military issue pistols.

    Reply

    1. Mister Robert Hall,
      One must presume that at the time, you were flying on a TWA-contracted military airlift mission for the troops of the 24th Infantry Division (Fort Stewart & Hunter Army Airfield) flying for a potential combat deployment to Kuwait (known as Operation Vigilant Warrior). Whoever directed that coca cola cans be removed and replaced that of Pepsi products was merely abiding by the Kuwaiti-driven Arab boycott directives against all businesses in the Middle East that had either direct or indirect trading relationships with the State of Israel. The irony here is that one of the original main sponsors of the boycott was the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who eventually permitted coca cola franchises to operate in the Kingdom and the Gulf States. The Saudi Olayan Group was the largest shareholder of the
      Coca-Cola Company and was a long time investor in the
      Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises in the U.S.
      The relationship took an active turn in 1988, when Olayan
      brought Coca-Cola back to Saudi Arabia after a market
      absence of 25 years.

  12. The Boeing 747. There will never be another airplane that can even come close. Boeing should keep the tooling around because the passenger version will make a comeback. The 777 can’t touch it; especially the cargo version. The 747 deserves a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Even to non aviation people, they know the Big Boeing. I always wanted a huge poster of every 747 model together.

    Reply

    1. As I watch the last set of wings fixtured in the mid body jig, I have seen the cutting of the slings and demo of the tooling. It’s final and doesn’t seem right. I am sad about the decision, but I’m trusting the leadership that they aren’t flying BCA into the ground.

  13. Air Atlanta Europe is also operating 3 747-400 PAX for Saudia airlines as of today, 25th of June 2022

    Reply

    1. I have. I remember being in F and in B flying ORD-LHR several times in the 80s. I still have the aminity kits. They also had an L1011 on the route from time to time. Damn those rattling plastic ceiling panels!

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