The Boeing 727 is becoming quite a rare aircraft to see in action these days. Thankfully there are still a number stored and preserved around the world.
Most of the active examples are flown in cargo configuration, with only a few examples still flying passengers (see my Last Chance to Fly ebook for a list of airlines still flying 727s and other rare airliners).
So where can you catch Boeing 727s in action? Here’s a list of some of the airports which have a number of 727s based or visiting regularly.
USA
Memphis, TN – The main super hub for FedEx Express, which is the world’s largest operator of Boeing 727 aircraft. All of its -100 models are gone, but around 40 -200s are still flying and can be seen overnight at Memphis.
Detroit Willow Run, MI – Primarily a cargo airport, Willow Run is home to Kalitta Charters and its fleet of 727-200s.
Florida – A number of 727s operate out of Opa Locka in Florida, including a private example, and also out of Orlando International and Miami International airports.
Colombia
Bogota – One of the world’s busiest airports for Boeing 727 flights. Local cargo operators AeroSucre and Lineas Aereas Suramericanas operate a mixed fleet of -100s and -200s from the airport every day.
Airlines such as Rio Linhas Aereas and Total Linhas Aereas operate a number of Boeing 727-200 cargo aircraft from airports throughout the country, with bases in Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro.
Formerly the main airport at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Subang is now a secondary airport used for cargo flights and aircraft receiving maintenance. It is also home to Transmile Air Services. Its fleet of Boeing 727-200 freighters can be seen every day, and photographed from a number of locations around the airport.
The domestic airport in Iran is where you can catch the last passenger Boeing 727-200s on a daily basis, with both Iran Air and Iran Aseman Airlines operating the type for the time being. These operated to destinations such as Mashad, Kish Island, and Dubai.
Canada
One of the best places to catch Boeing 727s in action, the airlines Cargojet Airways, and Purolator operate throughout Canada. Their main bases, and thus the best places to catch their 727s, are Hamilton, ON, and Kelowna, BC respectively.
Mexico City
Mexico’s Police and Government both operate a number of Boeing 727-200s on official duties from the country’s main airport. Their flights are irregular, but not uncommon.
Saudi Arabia
Boeing 727-100s and -200s still operate in Saudi Arabia, with private and government examples, plus those operated for DHL out of Jeddah and Riyadh. Spotting is not easy in Saudi Arabia, however.
There are many more airports that both receive aircraft from the airlines listed above, and have their own based examples. Some that spring to mind at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Lasham and Southend in the UK, and Cochabamba in Bolivia, where passenger examples still flew until recently.
The chance to photograph a Boeing 727 is quite rare now, so why not post the pictures you’ve managed to take recently for us all to enjoy? And why not comment below if you’ve seen a 727 recently, telling us where you saw it.
Author
22 comments
http://www.airpics.com/view.php?photo_id=126954 I saw this beauty a few years ago at ZRH
Lovely to see such an old example looking so smart. Thanks for sharing Jens!
Since FedEx retired their 727-200 fleet in July 2013, Memphis, TN should be taken off the list. Also, the last time I checked there were three professional sports teams that travel on 727-200 aircraft. They are the San Jose Sharks, Phoenix Coyotes and Houston Rockets. IFL Group operates their 727-200s out of Detroit Willow Run. I think Asia Pacific Airlines operates 727-200 cargo flights from Honolulu to the south pacific islands. Roush Racing bases two 727-200s at Charlotte-Douglas Airport. Can anybody tell me if Clay Lacy is still operating the 727-100 out of Van Nuys Airport?
TAM (Bolivia) is still flying a pax version B-727 200 between LPB-CBB-SRZ daily and some others flights in Bolivia, it’ s the last 727 here and it’ s also possible to fly B 737-200, Convair 66B, Fokker F-27, Bae 146….have a look to http://www.tam.bo/aeronave
Very sad to see the demise of the 727 I trained on lh4072 fra man in the 80s beautiful screeching sounds as on the TWA and clipper 707s sadly missed chrisack IATA
Still many to view though as will In many years to come most beautiful airliner behind the vc10
Have seen a 72 at dallas luv field.
IFL also has 727s based out of PTK near Detroit. They also have some nice looking Convair turboprops.
Saw a Kalitta Charter II 727 on the ramp at Minneapolis St Paul last month. Had winglets mod. Looked like a freighter.
I live in Kelowna Bc, where kelowna flight craft has a number of them. I also worked at Edmonton international airport in the 80’s, and did ground support work on Pacific western airlines 727 200’s, half cargo,half passenger. Flying above the Arctic circle ,where unprepared or gravel strips are the norm, the high mounted engines (to prevent fod),and short field performance,made them ideal. (later the planes were purchased by Echo Bay mines fr that very reason ).Also worked the daily flight to Texas,with Continental’s 100 series. Those planes sat overnight, withwithout power, so I had to plug in a ground power unit, drive the crew out, do the bags,(freight was already loaded ), hook up an air start cart, pull the pins and plugged into the flight deck, to clear for engines start, pulled th chocks and sent them on their way, I loved every minute of it.
Fantastic insight Andre. Thanks for sharing your 727 stories!
Matt
I can not remember how many years ago, but not all that many we took a charter flight out of msp charter terminal on a 727 and it was fully restored like new ! What a pleasure that was!
There is a 727-100 that is based at Chino Airport (KCNO) in southern California, N30MP. There must be no noise rules at that airport. You can find it on FlightAware.
[…] halted production of the 727 in 1984 after building 1,832 of the planes, but some 727s are still in service. Today’s flight served as a reunion for the pilots and airplane workers and family members […]
I last flew on a 727 in 1989 with panam from miami to san jose C.R
Guam airport is a base for Asia Pacific airlines which has 3 still active, Raya airways (ex transmile) only has 1 still active (9M-TGH).
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1069527493101709&set=a.1069527089768416.1073741834.100001334052388&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=911148412272952&set=a.911144572273336.1073741832.100001334052388&type=3&theater
I’m working on 727-200s such as cabin crew about 18 years in iran aseman airlines and about that so happy ,the 727 boeing that’s great aircraft.
That’s great Hamid. You must love the 727!
I lived in Jamaica for a few years and as recently as 2003 American Airlines would overnight a 727-200 at Sangster Int’l in Montego Bay. Then around 7AM, that beauty would roar to life on its way back to Miami.
This one will thrill you. Back before the European Union as we know it today, TWA used to fly overseas from US to its CDG (Paris) hub. Then, one would board a B-727 to the connecting city within Europe. Flew them many times between Paris and Munich, etc. They take off (rise into the sky) more slowly than today’s 737 (sister jet with similar nose/ fuselage). This was due to less-powerful jets than we have today. But it flew very majestically. Hope that helps.
727-200 still operating in USA: Amerijet N395AJ; Kalitta Charters N724CK, N725CK, N726CK, N729CK, however N720CK and N722CK either heavy check or grounded; Zero Gravity Corp. N794AJ; USA Jet N727US; IFL Group N215WE, N216WE, N281FL; Asia Pacific N705AA; Raytheon N289MT; Interjet West N209TR; CargoJet in Canada has about ten; finally 727-100 possibly still operating but not verified: N30MP, N311AG, N727AH, N766JS, N908JE, N800AK
I believe a 727 100 flies out of London ontario, yxu.Not sure if its purolator or who operates it if it still flying.