The Boeing 747, affectionately called the Queen of the Skies, is an engineering masterpiece. With its distinctive hump that features a double decker cabin, four engines and graceful sweeping wings, there is nothing like it.
Unfortunately, the jet that revolutionized travel back in the 1970s, has mostly faded from the inventory from most airlines. Airlines like United, Delta, British Airways, and others that once flew large fleets of the jumbo jet have now retired.
Most 747s still in operation are now cargo variants, shuttling boxes and outsized cargo around the world with carriers like Atlas Air, UPS, and others.
One carrier still offers your best bet to fly on a 747
Although most carriers have retired their 747s, there are still a number of operators that still fly the 747. The largest and most accessible operator of 747s is Lufthansa Airlines.
As of Q3 2024, they feature a fleet of 8 Boeing 747-400s and 18 Boeing 747-8i jets that are operating. These jets common fly routes between Frankfurt and New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Bengaluru, Seoul, Miami, Newak, and Dehli. While there’s a good chance you’ll fly on a 747, it is more difficult to determine whether you will fly on a -400 or -8i variant.
Lufthansa to retire their Boeing 747-400 by 2028
In Lufthansa’s Q2 report, the airline stated that they plan to retire their 747-400 and Airbus A340-600 subfleets by 2028. That means that you have about three years left to try to hitch a ride on a Boeing 747-400.
One note of caution though. The Boeing 747-400 is really flying on borrowed time. Originally, Lufthansa planned to retire the -400 fleet as part of downsizing due to the Covid pandemic.
However, the quick return of demand combined with delays from the Boeing 777X program have resulted in a second lease on life for the venerable jet.
So far, there is no planned retirement date for the Boeing 747-8i which is great news. You have to think though that if there is any significant downturn in travel, Lufthansa would likely offload their smaller fleets of Boeing 747s, A340s and their A380 to adjust.
Other airlines still flying the 747
Besides Lufthansa, your choices these days are pretty limited. Your best bet in the United States and Europe to fly on a 747 is to fly select routes on Air China, Korean Air, or on a chartered flight on Atlas Air.
Atlas Air actually operates the largest remaining fleet of Boeing 747s. They operate the 747-400 in both cargo and passenger configurations and the Boeing 747-8 in a cargo configuration. In fact, Avgeekery was there in 2022 when Atlas Air received the last Boeing 747 ever built.