After defining commercial air travel for more than five decades, the Boeing 747 will finally stop production, according to a report from Reuters. The news cable reports that Boeing had He made his final parts orders over a year ago, noting the end for the double decker quadjet that has been continuously built since 1968
Reuters attributes this report to sources within Industry and Boeing itself have yet to confirm that production of the 747 will definitely end, although orders have slowed dramatically as airlines have begun to switch to more efficient aircraft like Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350. Demand for large aircraft has declined further as covid-19 pandemic has reduced the demand for long distance air travel dropped dramatically, forcing airlines to reconsider more orders of big planes like the 747.
While passenger demand travel has declined so markedly, there has been an increase in air cargo traffic in recent years that has resulted in the latest Boeing 747 freighter variation, the 747-8F, a sales boost. While the demand for air cargo during the Covid-19 pandemic has increased even higher apparently not enough to sustain new 747 production beyond those currently in order.
Speaking of aircraft in order, Boeing has quite a few 747s planned for buyers worldwide, including UPS and the United States government, which plans to convert two 747-8s into VC-25 Presidential Transport Plane to serve as Air Force One.
If it seems like we’ve been saying goodbye to the 747 for a long time, it’s because we’ve been doing it. The airlines have taken their time to greet the plane that was instrumental in cultivating long-distance commercial aviation as we know (or did you know before the covid-19 pandemic, at least). the last flight scheduled by a 747 operated by a US airline, a Delta service from Seoul to Detroit it took place almost three years ago. Other airlines around the world have made much of their 747 fleets as the model retires. from regular service KLM’s 747s made their last flights in March and Qantas Following shortly after as the Coronavirus pandemic weakened demand. Still, airlines like Lufthansa and British Airways continue to keep their 747s in their fleet and wait for some time.
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The decision to phase out 747 production comes after Airbus announced that parts shipments which took place last month would be the last for his double-decker A380 aircraft. The A380, bigger than the 747, finally never came into vogue as a long-distance super jumbo jet with Air France already removing the model after a much shorter lifespan than the airline’s Boeings.
While the loss of the A380 is a disappointment, it’s hard to tell that it has a cut as deep as the end of the 747. The silhouette of the humped Boeing has become an icon of the Jet Age, a symbol of global connections, and a lifeline for communities and businesses who could spread across the world due to the plane’s massive range and capabilities. I know I will miss him.
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