Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 passenger planes parked in a row at the airport.
Here we go again. Yes, those are Boeing 747 passenger jets out there—a whole row of them. Currently, Germany’s Lufthansa is the world’s largest operator of these iconic old birds, keeping the “Queen of the Skies” alive in an era of twin-engine efficiency. (The other three carriers that still use these for passengers are Air China, Korean Air, and Rossiya Airlines.)
Did you know the original 747-100 was introduced way back in 1969? Boeing manufactured more than 1,500 of these jets over five decades. However, the era of the four-engine giant is fading; All American carriers officially abandoned the jumbo line in 2017.
I’m guessing Lufthansa keeps them alive for a variety of reasons. The 747’s high yield cabins maximize passenger numbers for long hauls. Its large belly bay means revenue is measured in freight as well as in passengers. And Lufthansa’s experience in developing specialized tooling and expertise means they can maintain their fleet via its subsidiary, Lufthansa Technik, without outsourcing. Those are all good reasons to stick with what they’ve got.
Today, only a few dozen 747s remain in service as passenger planes. The rest of the fleet has been scrapped or converted into freighters. Some have even more unusual second lives—like the Jumbo Stay Hotel at the Stockholm Arlanda Airport, where you can actually spend the night in a converted 747-212B. Personally, I can’t imagine it. After years of writhing in economy on long-haul flights, I would never choose to willingly sleep on a 747!
“Once I get you up there, where the air is rarefied
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there, I'll be holding you so near
You may hear all angels cheer because we're together.”
Lyrics from “Come Fly with Me” by Sammy Cahn
