Summary
For aviation enthusiasts, few sights are more exciting in 2026 than spotting a classic Boeing 747-400 still carrying passengers on scheduled flights.
While most airlines around the world retired their “Queen of the Skies” fleets years ago, Air China continues operating a tiny number of passenger-configured Boeing 747-400s — and among them is one particularly historic aircraft.
Registered B-2447, this veteran jumbo jet first flew in January 1995 and today holds the distinction of being the oldest passenger airliner still flying in mainland China.
Yet despite surviving for more than three decades, its days may finally be numbered.
Meet B-2447: Air China’s 31-Year-Old Jumbo Jet
A smoky start-up. Photo: byeangel
The aircraft is a Boeing 747-4J6 delivered new to Air China in February 1995. Built at Boeing’s Everett factory near Seattle, it carries manufacturer serial number 25883 and line number 1054.
Today, B-2447 is more than 31 years old — making it not only one of the world’s oldest active Boeing 747 passenger aircraft, but also the oldest commercial passenger aircraft still operating in China.
Remarkably, the aircraft has spent its entire career with the Chinese flag carrier.
Unlike many surviving 747s that ended up converted into freighters or parted out after changing operators several times, B-2447 has remained a passenger aircraft throughout its life.
Mostly Flying Domestic Chinese Routes
Although the Boeing 747 was designed for long-haul international flying, Air China’s remaining 747-400s are now used primarily on busy domestic trunk routes within China.
Enthusiasts tracking B-2447 today will most commonly find it operating between major hubs such as:
- Beijing
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Shanghai Hongqiao
The aircraft occasionally appears on regional international services, but its primary role is now moving large volumes of passengers between China’s busiest cities.
That makes the aircraft particularly interesting for aviation enthusiasts, because it is one of the few remaining opportunities anywhere in the world to fly aboard a classic passenger Boeing 747-400 on a relatively short domestic route.
A Former VIP Aircraft?
Adding to the aircraft’s appeal is its reported use for Chinese government and presidential transport duties over the years.
Multiple aviation sources and spotters have linked B-2447 with high-profile state missions, including carrying senior Chinese officials on diplomatic trips.
Air China historically operated several specially configured 747-400s that could be used for government transportation when required, before later Boeing 747-8 Intercontinentals gradually took over many of these responsibilities.
That means passengers boarding a routine domestic service today may unknowingly be flying aboard an aircraft that once carried some of China’s most senior political leaders.
Inside The Aircraft
B-2447 still retains a classic long-haul Boeing 747-400 cabin layout from another era of aviation.
According to fleet data, the aircraft is configured with:
- 10 First Class seats
- 42 Business Class seats
- 292 Economy Class seats
That gives the aircraft a total capacity of 344 passengers.
For enthusiasts lucky enough to fly aboard it, the experience is increasingly rare. The aircraft still offers many of the classic Boeing 747 passenger features that have largely disappeared from modern airline fleets — including the famous upper deck cabin and the unmistakable sound of four Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines.
One Of The Last Passenger 747-400s In Asia
The survival of Air China’s remaining Boeing 747-400 fleet is notable because the type has almost vanished from passenger service globally.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated retirement plans across the industry, with airlines such as British Airways, KLM and Virgin Atlantic retiring their 747 fleets years earlier than planned.
In Asia, most passenger Boeing 747-400 fleets have now disappeared entirely.
Asiana Airlines retired its final example in 2024, leaving Air China as the last scheduled passenger operator of the Boeing 747-400 in the region.
The newer Boeing 747-8 models are still active in the region, with Air China and Korean Air flying the type.
Retirement Is Likely Approaching
Former Air China 747-400 B-2445. Duan Zhu, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Despite its continued reliability, few expect B-2447 to remain in passenger service for much longer.
Air China has already begun reducing its classic 747 fleet. Sister aircraft B-2445 — previously China’s oldest active passenger aircraft — was retired in 2024 after more than 30 years of service.
The airline is increasingly focusing on more efficient twin-engine aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 for long-haul operations, while domestic capacity needs are increasingly handled by newer widebody types.
That means B-2447’s eventual retirement may mark the end of an extraordinary era for Chinese aviation.
Have you flown on Air China’s Boeing 747-400 fleet or spotted B-2447 recently? Share your memories in the comments below.
Title image: Melvin Loi
