Why is the 747-400 being retired?


Why is the 747-400 being retired? The 747-400 is now officially a classic aircraft, and it's an increasingly rare one too. First introduced in 1989, this very successful update to the 747 line is now reaching the end of its life in the skies as operators retire them in favor of newer and more efficient models.


Why A380 and 747 are being retired?

Why are airlines starting to retire A380s and 747s from their fleet? Because they are simply not economically viable for airlines in the modern era of aviation. They require a lot of expensive fuel, even the updated 747–8, which makes airlines always seeking aircrafts that use less fuel for similar range.


Will Boeing ever make the 747 again?

No more 747s are being made, but Boeing notes that they're still taking flight. The 1970s version even inspired one man to build a ground-based replica. We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come, Boeing's Smith said. Copyright 2023 NPR.


Why did no US airlines buy the A380?

The arrival of the A380 in 2007 was poorly timed. The price of jet fuel had begun to creep up, and by 2007 was floating at around $4 a gallon. This made airlines shy away from the expensive to operate four engine jets of the 80s and 90s, and to look instead to fuel efficiency as a major deciding factor.


Have any 747s ever crashed?

November 27, 1983: An Avianca 747-200 crashed while on approach to the airport in Madrid, Spain, killed 181 of the 192 people on board. June 23, 1985: An Air India 747-200 blew up over the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland, killed all 329 people on board. The plane, en-route to Bombay, was destroyed by a bomb.


What plane will replace the 747?

Boeing's latest widebody is hoping to replace its most popular one. Now that the Boeing 747 program has officially come to an end with the delivery of the last 747-8F this month, we look to the future. Boeing is currently in the certification process for the 777X program, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2025.


What will replace the 777?

Boeing Y3, to replace the 777-300 and 747 product lines. Y3 covers the 350–600+ passenger market, and is expected to be the third Yellowstone Project aircraft to be developed. It would compete with the Airbus A380 family as well as the largest model of the A350 family, the A350-1000.


Are Boeing 747 being discontinued?

The final 747 was delivered to Atlas Air in January 2023 after a 54-year production run, with 1,574 aircraft built.


How many 747 are left?

There were 440 Boeing 747 aircraft in active airline service as of August 2023, comprising 0 747-100s, 2 747SPs, 19 747-200s, 4 747-300s, 261 747-400s, and 154 747-8s. These aircraft are listed by airline operators and variant in the following table.


Is Boeing 777 bigger than 747?

According to Boeing's data, the 777-9 has a total length of 251 feet 9 inches (76.72 meters). The 747-8 is just a bit smaller at 250 feet 2 inches (76.3 meters). The 777-9 is the longest commercial aircraft ever built.


Will A380 be revived?

In 2020 at the pandemic's onset, Etihad also announced that their 10-strong A380 fleet would be permanently grounded. However, in late 2022 the airline announced its return. The aircraft will be deployed on service from Abu Dhabi to London exclusively as well. These flights will resume over the coming summer season.


What was the worst 747 crash?

KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, March 27, 1977 This crash remains the deadliest ever, claiming the lives of 583 people when two 747s collided on a foggy runway on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.


What is the safest plane to fly?

According to experts, the model (737-800) is considered to be the safest aircraft ever made. The 737-800 belongs to the aviation giant's next-generation aircraft which also includes 600, 700, and 900.