There are only about 40 passenger 747s still flying worldwide, as many airline operators have been retiring the jumbo jet over the last several years. Most airlines just can’t afford it anymore, since newer more fuel-efficient planes are now available.
Those still operating passenger 747s include Asiana Airlines, Mahan Air, Korean Air, Air China and Lufthansa.
Lufthansa is actually the largest operator of the 747-8, with 19 in its current fleet, and potential commitments to keep them flying for years to come. Most of them are under 10 years old.
Boeing recently delivered the last 747 they will ever make, which we reported about from the company’s 747 factory in Everett, WA (read about that here). And one of the guests there to celebrate was Lufthansa’s CEO, Carsten Spohr, who made it clear that the company’s 747s will not only fly into the next decade, but will also be upgraded in all passenger classes.
An investment in the future of Lufthansa’s fleet
“Our crews love the 747, our passengers love it, even plane spotters and photographers love it,” said Spohr. “It’s just so good looking! And that’s why we at Lufthansa are currently looking into another upgrade for our 747-8 in all classes, to fly this airplane way into the next decade. It’s something we are proud of, to represent this amazing airplane for many more years.”
The majority of 747s still flying today are for cargo, with over 300 freighters in operation.
Lufthansa does still operate a smaller fleet of 747-400s, but those won’t be flying for many years longer. So they won’t undergo any upgrades like the 747-8s.
It’s unclear however what exactly Lufthansa will do with reconfiguring new cabins, nor have they given a timeline. One Mile at a Time goes into it in a more detail.
Whatever the case, when Lufthansa gives more details we will let you know. But, it’s good to know that they intend to keep providing passengers the experience of flying on the “Queen of the Skies” well into the 2030s.
