Changing needs in aircraft, the COVID-19 pandemic, and less demand all contributed to the discontinuation of the Boeing 747 in favor of newer models.
Boeing’s launch of the Boeing 747 in 1969 was a huge step forward for long-haul airline travel. It was the first wide-body airplane of its time to comfortably seat 400 passengers and could fly farther than most other jets on the market. The 747 became the flagship of international flights and was known as the „Queen of the Skies.“ But as time passed, more modern airplanes were being built, challenging the Queen’s throne. Airline needs shifted, favoring more efficient twin-engine jets like the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner, which burned less fuel, cost less to maintain, and could fly point-to-point routes without needing massive hub airports.
As the 2010s closed in, the demand for the 747 passenger variants had already fizzled out, and most production had shifted to freighter versions. At its peak, Boeing was building 70 of these airplanes every year, reduced to only five in 2022. Carriers became more conscious about costs, and when it came down to it, the big four-engine Boeing airplane no longer made economic sense.
