Boeing 747 Routes to Europe This Winter

Once upon a time, Europe was filled with Boeing 747s. Heathrow and Frankfurt were forests of four-engine giants, with dozens of daily departures to every corner of the world. From the 747-100 to the -400, the Queen of the Skies defined long-haul flying for more than four decades.

But as airlines shifted toward the fuel-efficient twin-engine era, the 747 rapidly disappeared from European schedules. Today only a handful of carriers still operate passenger 747s worldwide—and even fewer bring them into Europe.

If you’re hoping to catch the Queen in the air during the Winter 2025/26 season, your options are limited but exciting. Here’s a look at the airlines still flying 747-400 and 747-8 passenger services into Europe this winter.

Lufthansa – Boeing 747-400 & 747-8

Photo (c) Erik Ritterbach

Germany’s flag carrier remains the largest operator of passenger 747s in the world, and the only major European airline still flying the type.

Lufthansa operates both the 747-400 and the newer 747-8 Intercontinental, with the -8i now serving as the backbone of its long-haul fleet. Frankfurt (FRA) remains the centre of 747 operations, with Munich occasionally seeing scheduled or operational substitution flights.

During the Winter 2025/26 timetable, Lufthansa will continue flying the 747-8 on a number of high-demand routes to North America and Asia, with the 747-400 also appearing on select long-haul rotations. For many enthusiasts, Germany is now Europe’s last stronghold for regular Boeing 747 passenger flights.

These are some of the 747 destinations from Frankfurt this winter:

• Bengaluru (-400)
• Buenos Aires (-8)
• Chicago O’Hare (-8)
• Delhi (-400)
• Johannesburg (-8)
• Los Angeles (-8)
• Mexico City (-8)
• Miami (-8)
• Newark (-8)
• San Francisco (-8)
• Sao Paulo Guarulhos (-8)
• Shanghai Pudong (-400)
• Singapore (-400/-8)
• Tokyo Haneda (-8)
• Washingon Dulles (-8)

A Rare—but Magical—Sight in Europe

Between retirements, cabin refits, fluctuating demand and the dominance of the A350 and 787, the 747’s era is clearly fading. Lufthansa’s 747 fleet now carries much of the responsibility for keeping the Queen visible in Europe, with Korean Air and Air China providing only occasional or seasonal appearances.

Still, these aircraft are becoming rarer each year—and the Queen will eventually bow out entirely. For now, though, she continues to grace Europe’s skies in small but spectacular numbers.

When was the last time you flew on a Boeing 747?