This Is It: Boeing Hands Over The Last 747 To Atlas Air (2024)

Today, Boeing delivered the final 747 ever made, a 747-8F (freighter), to Atlas Air, the world's largest operator of 747s, with 51. The delivery closes the door on more than five decades of Boeing's history.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

The final delivery

The 747 is one of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history, whose variants include passenger, freighter, business, military, and civil aircraft. Nicknamed the 'Queen of the Skies,' the 747 was the original jumbo jet. After a more than 50-year production run, the final aircraft rolled off the production line last month on December 6.

Today, the 747-8F, registered as N863GT, was delivered to Atlas Air and will be wet-leased to Kuehne+Nagel. The aircraft was the 1,574th 747 manufactured since 1969 and is nicknamed 'Empower.' The penultimate 747, which also went to Atlas Air and will operate for Kuehne+Nagel, was nicknamed 'Inspire.'

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

As a tribute to Joe Sutter, the head engineer on the development of the 747, a decal has been applied to the front right-hand side of the final 747. The decal reads "forever incredible." Sutter, considered a legend in the aviation industry, led a team of almost 4,500 engineers to create the jumbo jet.

Several Boeing executives attended the event, including members of the Boeing family, the Sutter family and Charles Trippe, grandson of Pan Am founder Juan Trippe. Additionally, Kim Smith (final 747 program leader) and several "Incredibles" (Boeing employees that designed and built the first 747) were present.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

A lasting legacy

Pan-American Airways was the launch customer for the first 747 created, the 747-100. At the time of development, Pan Am placed an order for 25 of the exciting new jumbo jet. The first aircraft was delivered in January 1970, christened by First Lady Pat Nixon, nicknamed Clipper Victor.

Since then, a total of 46 airlines have operated the 747, with almost half buying the -400. These included historical carriers such as Flying Tiger Line, Swissair, BOAC and TWA. Of course, a number of contemporary airlines also operated their own Queens, including British Airways, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, and more. The most prolific operator was Japan Airlines, which operated 112 Boeing 747s over the years.

Photo: Virgin Atlantic

Numerous leading freighter companies fly and have flown the 747, and some have been involved in special missions such as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA, which was retired last year) and the two VC-25As frequently flying under the callsign of Air Force One.

Speaking at today's event, Elizabeth Lund, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Airplane Programs at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, noted the special place the 747 has held for many people over the years.

"Whether it is Air Force One or another special-purpose airplane, we have seen how the 747 changes lives. We've read stories of families that flew to safety from war-torn countries onboard 747s to start a new life, people who were able to find new hope for their businesses because of international air freight carried onboard the 747, and deliveries of life-saving equipment and food supplies made available because of the 747.

"We've seen the airplane fitted as a firefighting machine; It's been used to carry the space shuttle, and it's being used today to support commercial space launch vehicles."

Photo: NASA

As the industry moves to a more sustainable future, the era of quad jets has ended. Airbus stopped manufacturing the A380 in late 2021, and now Boeing has bid farewell to the 747. The COVID-19 pandemic was disastrous worldwide and in numerous industries, forcing the early retirement of many passenger aircraft, which occurred with a few 747 operators. As Boeing says goodbye to the 747, it will concentrate its widebody efforts on its successful 787 Dreamliners and the continued development and testing of the 777X.

The end of the jumbo?

However, while this is the end for the production of newly-built 747s, it is not the end of the aircraft by any means. Numerous cargo airlines, including Atlas Air, remain reliant on the jumbo for their operations, and we will likely see the Queen operated in this capacity for many years to come.

Lund added,

"We're seeing a send off today. But we all know that the 747 will remain in service and continue to inspire all of us for a very long time."

Although passenger operations are more sparse, there are still some opportunities to fly on the Boeing 747 if that's a bucket list item for you. If you wish to fly as a passenger on a 747 in 2023, four airlines currently operate the aircraft type. According to schedule data from Cirium, Air China, Korean Air, Lufthansa, and Asiana Airlines have active passenger service, although Asiana plans to retire the 747 after March.

For now, we bid farewell to the last brand new Boeing 747 ever to roll out of the factory. May she fly high and fare well over the, hopefully, many years of useful service she will see.