The last Boeing-747 was handed over to the customer

The production of the legendary Boeing-747 has been discontinued, and Atlas Air has become the owner of the last, cargo version of the 747-8.

For all the time, since 1969, that is, for more than 50 years, the concern has produced 1574 Boeing-747, writes CNN. The handover ceremony at the Boeing plant in Washington state, which was broadcast on the concern’s website, was attended by plant workers, top managers of the aviation industry, Hollywood actor and former pilot John Travolta.

The operation of an airliner with a characteristic “hump” on the fuselage began back in 1970. For a long time, it remained the most spacious aircraft in the world: more than 600 passenger seats. The Boeing 747 also served as Air Force One, carrying the President of the United States, and transporting the American space shuttles of the Space Shuttle system to the launch complex.

In recent years, the use of the 747 has become uneconomical for many airlines due to the high fuel consumption of a four-engine airliner. Boeing announced the end of production of the former flagship in July 2020. Karsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa, said at the handover ceremony for the last Boeing 747 to the customer:

“Boeing 747 is a symbol of many things, and, above all, it is a symbol of the world, which with the Boeing 747 has become much smaller.”

“If you love this business, you dreaded this moment,” said longtime aviation analyst Richard Abulafia. “No one wants a four-engine airliner anymore, but that doesn’t detract from the tremendous contribution the aircraft has made to the industry and its remarkable legacy.” The Boeing 747 made its first flight on February 9, 1969, ushering in a new era of affordable air travel. It became the world’s first long-range double-deck wide-body passenger aircraft. It is operated all over the world, carrying up to 500 passengers on two decks.

The American company, like its European competitors from Airbus, has developed more compact and economical models of twin-engine airliners that are replacing the giant Boeing-747 – economical and roomy Boeing-777 and Airbus A380.

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