Why is 747 obsolete?

Built in 1967 to produce the mammoth jet, it remains the world's largest manufacturing plant according to Boeing. But after five decades, customer demand for the 747 eroded as Boeing and Airbus (AIR.PA) developed more fuel efficient two-engine widebody planes.



The Boeing 747, the "Queen of the Skies," is considered obsolete for passenger travel in 2026 primarily due to "Engine Economics." The 747 has four engines, whereas modern long-haul giants like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 only have two. Advances in engine reliability (governed by ETOPS regulations) have made it safe for twin-engine planes to fly across the widest oceans. Two engines use significantly less fuel, require half the maintenance, and are far quieter than the four-engine setup of the 747. Additionally, the 747’s "Hub-and-Spoke" model—where a massive plane carries 500 people between two giant cities—has been replaced by the "Point-to-Point" model, where smaller, efficient planes fly directly between smaller cities. While the 747 remains a "legend" for its iconic hump and massive size, it is simply too expensive for airlines to operate in a 2026 market focused on fuel efficiency and carbon footprints. However, it still has a long life ahead in the cargo industry, where its "nose-loading" capability makes it irreplaceable for moving oversized freight.

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Built in 1967 to produce the mammoth jet, it remains the world's largest manufacturing plant according to Boeing. But after five decades, customer demand for the 747 eroded as Boeing and Airbus (AIR.PA) developed more fuel efficient two-engine widebody planes.

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[the 747] has become something relatively obsolete,” says Sobie. For passenger flights, the plane is doubly obsolete. The 747, with its ability to seat more than 500 passengers at maximum capacity, doesn't reflect the current market for air travel.

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But over the last few decades, airlines have pushed aircraft manufacturers for more fuel-efficient planes to reduce costs. Two-engine jets can now fly near the same capacity and fly farther than older, four-engine planes like Boeing's 747 and the Airbus A380.

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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.

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With its impressive size and graceful appearance, the 747, known as the “Queen of the Skies,” has been one of the most recognizable and versatile aircraft since its first flight in 1969.

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A Boeing 747 can endure about 35,000 pressurization cycles and flights—roughly 135,000 to 165,000 flight hours—before metal fatigue sets in. 747s are retired after approximately 27 years of service.

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Customer interest in new 757s continued to decline, and in 2003, a renewed sales campaign centered on the 757-300 and 757-200PF yielded only five new orders. In October 2003, following Continental Airlines' decision to switch its remaining 757-300 orders to the 737-800, Boeing announced the end of 757 production.

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For some airlines, the A380 offered too much capacity, while for Emirates, the airline can't get enough of the plane. Unfortunately for Emirates (and us passengers), the days of the Airbus A380 are numbered. Airbus stopped A380 production in 2021, as there weren't sufficient orders to keep production going.

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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.

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According to flight attendant Brenda Orelus, the dirties place on an airplane is not the lavatory or the tray tables. It is the seat-back pockets. IN a video that Orelus posted on TikTok she revealed to her more than 100,000 followers that the pockets are full of germs and are almost never cleaned.

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What is the longest flight in the world by distance? The longest flight in the world by distance is New York (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) on Singapore Airlines clocking in at 9,537 miles. What plane can fly the farthest in the world?

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Because of aerodynamics, the cockpit level had to rise and slope back down to the main fuselage, giving us the iconic hump.

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According to data from ch-aviation.com, the oldest active Boeing 747 family aircraft left in the world today is a 747-100SF that flies for the Iranian Air Force. Bearing registration 5-8103, this veteran quadjet is 52.86 years old and flew for TWA from 1970 to 1975 before being converted for usage as a freighter.

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The most common reason is that there are no airstrips or airports on many of the small islands, so if a plane had to make an emergency landing, it would be difficult to find a place to land. Additionally, the Pacific Ocean is vast and remote, so if a plane were to go down, it would be very difficult to find.

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The A380 is the largest passenger jet ever built by passenger capacity, volume, weight, and wingspan. The Boeing 747-8 beats it for length, however, as will the upcoming Boeing 777-9 (technically built but not yet in service).

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