Earlier this week, Boeing celebrated the delivery of its final 747 ever produced, marking the end of an era. Several airlines operated the aircraft type through its 54-year program, and nearly 1,600 airplanes were built.

The first flight of the Queen of the Skies took place on February 9, 1969. A year later, the aircraft entered service with Pan-Am. Over the years, airlines worldwide fell in love with the aircraft as it was somewhat before its time and offered a premium experience to passengers.

The top 10

From cargo carriers to passenger airlines, the Boeing 747 had many operators throughout its history. Among the carriers that operated a large fleet of the aircraft, only three are based in the United States.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, the top 10 largest operators of the airplane, excluding wet leases, are:

  • Atlas Air - Operated 111 aircraft, several still flying today.
  • Japan Airlines (JAL) - Including JAL Cargo, flew 109 aircraft of several variations between 1970 and 2011.
  • British Airways - Operated 103 aircraft over a 22-year period. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the airline retired the remaining 747s from its fleet.
  • Air Atlanta Icelandic - Operated 100 aircraft, with its first delivery in 1993. The airline now only operates 15 planes.
  • Singapore Airlines - 95 planes in its fleet. For 39 years, the 747 was a staple of the carrier's passenger fleet, first flying with the airline in 1973. There are only seven 747s left in its fleet, flying for its cargo operations.
  • United Airlines - Began its relationship with the 747 in 1970. Operated a total of 90 747s until the aircraft type was retired on November 7, 2017.
  • Korean Air - Operated 87 aircraft, and currently operates the nine 747-8Is.
  • Lufthansa - Operated 83 aircraft, and currently operates eight 747-400s and 19 747-8Is.
  • Cathay Pacific - Operated 83 aircraft and currently operates 20 cargo-configured 747s.
  • Kalitta Air - Operated 76 aircraft, several still flying today.

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Atlas: Luxurious charters flying in the friendly skies

Atlas Air, flying the largest number of 747s in history, operates cargo and charter flights. For charter operations, Atlas currently has five 747s. There are two different aircraft configurations: the 747-400 VIP and the 747-400 HD.

Atlas Air Boeing 747 Charter
Photo: Atlas Air

The airline said the 747-400 VIP is for VIP service and features 26 upper-deck business class seats for maximum privacy and comfort and 10 first class suites for ultimate comfort and service. The seats in first class feature a personal 15.4-inch video screen and a power plug. In business class, ideal for long-haul flights, the carrier fits 143 passengers. Business class seats reportedly feature a personal 12.1-inch video screen and a power plug.

Economy class seats provide maximum flexibility, according to the airline, seating 36 passengers. A state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system with in-seat power is also included with fully-equipped galleys that can cater anything from light snacks or multi-course offerings.

Atlas Air Boeing 747-400 charter
Photo: Atlas Air

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Comfortable charters

The 747-400 HD is used for the carrier's "Comfort Service," including 23 business class seats at the front of the aircraft. On the upper deck, there are 66 economy class seats, and 439 economy seats make up the rest of the plane's configuration to additionally provide flexibility. According to Atlas, all seats are equipped with individual video screens with channel selection. In addition, high-density seating offers the airline an excellent economy of scale while flexible catering offerings for short and long-haul flights meet the customer's particular tastes.

The rest of Atlas' 747s, featuring a mix of 747-400F, -400LCF, and -8F, operate for its cargo operations. Earlier this week, the airline took delivery of the last Boeing 747 ever built, N863GT.

According to Cirium, the aircraft type is expected to continue flying into the 2040s.

Source: Ciruim