The Boeing 747 first entered service in 1969 and some say is known for democratizing air travel because it was effective at lowering the cost of long haul travel due to the capacity of the plane.
Well, it’s more than 40 years later and Boeing is still taking orders for the 747-800 and 747-8F freighters. But could the most recent order for the 747-800 be the last one and a way for a graceful exit for Boeing to shut down production?
Could This Be The Last Boeing 747 Customer?Â
According to this Bloomberg article, the most recent order Boeing received was awarded by the Pentagon for the 747-800 to be the new Air Force One to replace the aging 747-200’s. According to the article, Boeing indicated they are still seeking orders, which they are. But could this be the last order for the 747? What do you think?
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The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.
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It’s sad, but I think we finally have to accept that the B747’s time is almost up. This would be one heck of a way to see the program end. I’d much rather it end as the symbol of the U.S. government than flying around Asia. I think it all depends on whether the rumors of Airbus halting A380 production come to fruition. There is definitely still a market, albeit a small one, for the superjumbo.
Yes. I do think the three units for the USAF (to become AF-1s) will be the end. The 742Bs currently in use were the last off the -22 line. In addition, Boeing will also get the contract for the vast majority of the internal and ‘special’ modifications required on these airplanes, work that will require a lot of people and a lot of time to complete on THREE VVIP airframes. Many of those folks will come from the existing 748 line.