Summary
The Boeing 747 is one of the most iconic jet airliners ever produced, and has a place in the hearts of most aviation enthusiasts and travellers alike.
If you want to see a Boeing 747 today, however, your chances are much slimmer than they were in previous years.
Over 1,570 747s were built before production ended in 2023, marking the close of an aviation era. Though most passenger examples have been retired, the 747 remains a vital freighter and continues to fly with a handful of airlines around the world.
Most of the active examples today are cargo carrying freighters, with the opportunity to fly on one as a passenger diminishing.
The Boeing 747 – a History
Boeing 747SP-21 N147UA was delivered to United Airlines in February 1986. The aircraft is currently preserved at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey, USA, where it is used for research purposes. (Tim Rees, distributed under a GFDL 1.2 Licence)
The Boeing 747, affectionately known as the “Queen of the Skies,” first took flight in 1969 and revolutionized air travel. Developed to meet the demand for long-haul, high-capacity air transport, it was the world’s first widebody airliner and, for decades, the largest passenger aircraft ever built. Its distinctive hump and upper deck lounge became icons of the Jet Age, offering unprecedented comfort and range.
The original 747-100 entered service with Pan Am in 1970, followed by improved variants such as the 747-200 and -300, and later the long-range 747-400, which became the backbone of many global airlines’ fleets through the 1990s and 2000s. The final evolution, the 747-8, introduced advanced engines and technology from the 787 Dreamliner.
[Read: 15 Classic Boeing 747 Operators]
How Many 747s Are Still Flying
ER-BAR of Sky Cargo. A rare 747 “Classic”
We’ve looked into the active fleets of the world’s airlines and produced a list of all known active examples around the world.
Naturally, most are more recent variants like the 747-400 and, to a lesser extent, the 747-8.
Active ‘Classic’ models (ie, the 747-100, -200, -300 and SP) are even rarer, and none are thought to be carrying passengers any more.
Here’s a summary of the active Boeing 747 fleets:
- Boeing 747-100 – 2 active
- Boeing 747-200 – 15 active
- Boeing 747-300 – 1 active
- Boeing 747SP – 2 active
- Boeing 747-400/400F – 253 active
- Boeing 747-8/8F – 150 active
Which Passenger Airlines Fly the 747 Today?
Today there are a handful of passenger airlines still flying the Boeing 747.
Top of the list is Lufthansa, who have the largest active fleet of passenger 747s, comprising both the 747-400 and -8 models. It has 8 and 19 examples, respectively.
They are based at Frankfurt Airport in Germany and operate on many long-haul routes to North and South America, Africa and Asia.
Next, Korean Air is still flying the 747-8 on long-haul services from Seoul Incheon. Alongside their Airbus A380s, the 747 is a flagship of long-haul travel for the airline.
Air China 747-8I (B-2485) on approach to Beijing Capital International Airport (Photo: eangel, distributed under a CC BY-SA 2.0 Licence)
Air China also has 747-400s and -8s on long-haul and some regional services, based out of Beijing.
Atlas Air is not a scheduled airline, but has some 747-400s used for private charter flights carrying passengers.
Rossiya Airlines in Russia has a fleet of 747-400s in passenger configuration which are used on domestic and some international services.
Mahan Air in Iran also has Boeing 747-400s in its active fleet. It uses them on domestic and Middle Eastern services out of Tehran.
Which Cargo Airlines Fly the 747 Today?
Freighter Boeing 747s are still very common, with many older aircraft having been converted or built as freighters, and many of the 747-8 models built as freighters; in fact, the final aircraft off the production line were built to carry cargo.
It seems the Jumbo has many years left as a freighter, and will likely continue in this role long after the passenger variants have stopped flying.
The main cargo 747 operators are:
Aerotranscargo – Moldovan cargo airline using the 747-400.
Air Atlanta Europe – using 747-400 freighters.
AirBridgeCargo – using the 747-8
Air China – with a range of 747-400 freighters.
Asiana Airlines – no longer flying passenger 747s, but with plenty of freighters.
Atlas Air – the largest 747 operator, with over 50 active freighters across -400 and -8 variants.
Cargolux – Luxembourg cargo airline flying the 747-400 and -8.
Cathay Cargo – Hong Kong-based freight airline using -400 and -8 variants.
China Airlines – the Taiwanese carrier has 747-400 freighters.
Kalitta Air – another large US cargo carrier using 747-400s.
KLM/Martinair – flying mostly in KLM colours, Martinair operates -400 freighters.
Korean Air – as well as passenger variants, it flies -400 freighters.
National Airlines – uses 747-400 freighters.
SF Airlines – the Chinese cargo airline has a few 747-400s.
Silk Way West Airlines – uses 747-400 and -8 freighters.
Singapore Airlines – its cargo division still uses the 747-400.
UPS Airlines – another large US cargo carrier, with over 40 747-400/-8 freighters.
Western Global Airlines – uses four 747-400 freighters.
Kalitta Air 747-400 freighter
You can even find some 747 Classics flying as freighters still, including:
Aerostan – flying three cargo 747-200s
Fly Pro – flying two 747-200 freighters
Geo-Sky – flight a single 747-200 freighter
Iran Air Force – fly one or two 747-100s and 747-200s, alongside government-owned Saha Air.
A Note About the US Air Force’s 747s
One of the current 1970s era E-4 “Doomsday” planes.
The US Air Force has a number of Boeing 747s in its fleet. Both of the aircraft currently used as ‘Air Force One’ transports, as well as the six E-4 airborne command aircraft, are active and based on the 747-200, with later technology incorporated.
There are also some newer 747-8s being converted to fly in the Air Force One role in the future.
Get a List of ALL Surviving 747s
Cockpit of the prototype 747
We’ve put together a downloadable spreadsheet of ALL surviving Boeing 747s, from the earliest 747-100s, to the currently active 747-8s, whether in museums, storage or active service.
The final 747 ever built was recently delivered, and the prototype from 1968 still survives. Find them all in this list, available exclusively to Airport Spotting Premium Members.
You can also download Last Chance to Fly – our guide to which passenger airlines are currently flying rare and historic aircraft types, including the Boeing 747.
Want to become a member? Join today here.
What are your memories of the Boeing 747? Did you ever fly on one? Where did you fly? Leave a comment below!
2 comments
Just love the 747, always a head turner when they land and taxy in. Thankfully still regular here in Perth as freighters .
Saw my first 747 in Feb 1970 at LHR, PANAM N735PA and my first flight in one was LAX/LHR July 1971 in N771PA and returning in N738PA. Have had an amazing 124 flights in them, all models 100/200/200SP/300/400 and 400ER.
Back in the early eighties, a now defunct travel agent DIRECT TRAVEL of Long Eaton, Nottingham did several short distance charters using a VIRGIN ATLANTIC 747 that was parked up a LGW.
You either boarded a coach at EMA for a drive to LGW then a one-way 45min flight to EMA – alternatively you flew EMA to LGW on the aircrafts return journey, then coach back to EMA.
From memory, tickets were £25 each.