After 32 years and 4 months in service, another airline has confirmed the last passenger flight with a Boeing 747, leaving only four companies in the world operating the iconic American manufacturer’s model on regular routes.
On social media, Asiana announced that on March 25, 2024, it will operate flights OZ 711/712 between Seoul/Incheon (ICN) and Taipei/Taoyuan (TPE), Taiwan; marking the final services of the only Boeing 747-400 left in its fleet.
Throughout its history, Asiana has operated a total of three Boeing 747 passenger jets, registered as HL7416, HL7418, and HL 7428, all delivered in the 1990s.
Since 2019, the airline operates with only one Boeing 747-400, registered as HL7428, delivered in 1999. The aircraft is configured with 10 Royal Business Class seats and 364 Economy Class seats on the first floor, in addition to 24 Business Class seats on the upper deck, totaling 398 seats.
Interestingly, since 2016, the airline operates exclusively in Southeast and East Asian destinations, including China, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Japan, even on domestic flights. Previously, it flew to Frankfurt, New York, or Los Angeles, which have now been replaced by the Airbus A380.
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The Queen of the Skies in its slow disappearance
With the advent of more efficient twin-engine airplanes, the Boeing 747 is gradually disappearing, being replaced by the Airbus A350, Boeing 777, or A380 (which will also soon disappear).
Although Boeing offered an improved and more efficient version with the launch of the -8i in 2014, only 46 aircraft in the passenger version were sold. Airlines have opted for larger twin-engine aircraft that offer the same number of seats as the Jumbo.
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Like Asiana’s Boeing 747, there are companies that resist retiring the distinctive model. According to Cirium, Lufthansa, Air China, Saudia, and Korean Air continue to operate the jumbo on regular routes.
Lufthansa is the largest operator of the passenger version of the 747, with eight -400s and nineteen -8is. The German airline operates in twenty-one destinations, including Buenos Aires/Ezeiza (EZE), Mexico City (MEX), and São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU).
Air China operates with seven -8is and three -400s, including its use to transport the President of the People’s Republic of China. The airline deploys them in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, as well as in Frankfurt, Los Angeles, and New York.
Following is another Korean airline, Korean Air, which operates with nine -8is. The airline deploys them in four destinations: Atlanta, Honolulu, New York, Paris/Charles de Gaulle, and, starting in June, London/Heathrow. However, they have announced the retirement of their Boeing 747, focusing on efficiency and fleet consolidation with newer and more economical models.
Lastly, Saudia uses two Boeing 747-400s operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic, flying from Jeddah to key destinations with a significant Muslim diaspora due to the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Atlas Air also still flies the B747-400 both passenger (sports & military charters) as well as freighters