Page 23 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 Online Magazine

© LUFTHANSA

AN ERA ENDS

BOEING HAS ENDED iconic jetliner had slowed in recent years and Boeing announced
its decision to complete production of the B747-8 in 2022.
PRODUCTION OF THE

B747 AFTER A 54 YEAR Best of the Last
PRODUCTION RUN The final and most advanced version of the B747 was the B747-8
programme which was officially launched in November 2005. In
ATUL CHANDRA fact, Boeing had designed the B747 with freight in mind, right
from the early days of the programme. A key reason for Boeing

Boeing concluded production of the B747 engineers to locate the B747’s flight deck on a second level was
in December, marking the end of a 54 year to facilitate cargo loading in later freighter derivatives. As a result
production for the iconic double-decker the B747 quickly gained popularity for its cargo carrying ability
jetliner which redefined air travel. The B747- and quickly become the industry strand for freighter models.
100 entered service with Pan Am in January The B747 was one of the main reasons for its emergence as
1970 and was the first widebody twin-aisle the market leader in air cargo aircraft, providing more than 90
jetliner, in addition to being the first commer- per cent of the dedicated freighter capacity around the world,
cial aircraft powered by high bypass turbofan including new production and converted freighters.
engines.
Boeing ended production after manufacturing
1,574 B747s and the final aircraft to leave the
airframer’s widebody factory at Everett was
a B747-8F (Freighter) destined for Atlas Air
Worldwide. Atlas Air is the largest 747 oper-
ator in the world with over 50 of the type in
is fleet. The B747-8 was the final and most
advanced version of the jetliner.
By the end of production the B747 fleet had
logged more than 118 million flight hours and
nearly 23 million flight cycles. Sales of the © BOEING

ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 23