The Boeing 777 is the best-selling long-haul carrier in the history of aviation. It has an exceptional life-span of 30 years, but what's the secret behind this record-breaking longevity?
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The aircraft is highly popular with airlines (more than 1,500 passenger and freighter variants have been delivered) because it can carry a large number of passengers — and cargo — long distances using only two engines.
The oldest active 747 aircraft todayThe oldest passenger aircraft in commercial operation is Boeing 747-400 EP-MEE (SN 24383) operated by Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline. IBA Insight Flights shows that this aircraft frequently makes trips between Tehran and Moscow, and last flew on 30th January 2023.
Sure, the 747 is a Type Certified and airworthy aircraft, the FAA does not really care who owns it so long as they play by the rules. Boeing even sells them directly to the private market via their BBJ line. There are even a few used ones listed for sale right now.
Current prices for a used 777 range from as little as $3.5 million to $13 million for airplanes in airline configuration. (You can still pay $200 million or more for one that's already finished to royalty standards.)
Emirates is the largest operator of the Boeing 777 with 148 aircraft, having operated each 777 family variant. The 777 is produced in two fuselage lengths.
What makes the plane so expensive? The 777-300ER can carry 365 passengers compared with the 787-9's capacity of 280. The GE engines on the 777 model develop 62% more thrust than the 787's two engines. The plane is also longer than the Dreamliner, has a greater wingspan and a greater wing area, and is taller.
“The Boeing 777's unique combination of superior range, outstanding fuel efficiency and passenger-preferred comfort has created long-range success for carriers around the world. And the 777-300ER now gives operators a perfect opportunity to extend that success.
The 777-300 carries 388 passengers with a range up to 5,845 nautical miles (10,820 km). The 777-200ER (Extended Range) carries 314 passengers with a range up to 7,510 nautical miles (13,900 km). To offer airlines additional flexibility in serving nonstop routes, Boeing introduced two new longer range 777 airplanes.
Flying Is Only Getting Safer Over TimeGlobal flight accident rates have been steadily declining over the years for a number of reasons, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Aircraft age is not a safety factor. However, if the aircraft is older and hasn't been refurbished properly, it may cause flyers some inconvenience such as overheating, faulty air conditioning, or faulty plumbing in the lavatory. More important than an aircraft's age is its history.
But after five decades, customer demand for the 747 eroded as Boeing and Airbus (AIR.PA) developed more fuel efficient two-engine widebody planes. When Boeing confirmed in July 2020 that it would end 747 production, it was already only producing at a rate of half an aircraft a month.
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.
Therefore, the ERJ135/140/145 members of the family are among the safest airliners in history. The Airbus A340 is also one of the safest, with no fatal accidents involving any of the 380 units since its introduction in March 1993.
However, particularly high praise should be given to older aircraft, such as Boeing's 737-600 and 737-900 models, that have never had a hull loss, despite having been in service since the turn of the century.