The lifespan of United’s remaining 747s just got shortened. (Image: United)
If you’ve been hoping to book a final flight on a United 747 before the iconic jumbo jet is retired, you better start exploring your options before The Queen gets the boot.
Last year, United said it had set a target date of October 2018 to eliminate the remaining 747s from its fleet. But now that date has been moved up.
United President Scott Kirby said in a letter to employees this week that the company expects the final 747 flight to take place in the fourth quarter of 2017.
And the reason United is eager to remove the aging planes is largely economic. The 747 “once represented the state-of-the-art in air travel,” Kirby said. “Today, there are more fuel-efficient, cost-effective and reliable widebody aircraft that provide an updated inflight experience for our customers traveling on long-haul flights.”
Like United, Delta is starting to get rid of these graceful, gas guzzling old birds. (Photo: Delta)
United has been flying 747s since 1970. It is replacing its 747s with 777s and 787 Dreamliners on long-haul routes.
The earlier retirement of the planes will put United on a schedule similar to Delta’s, the only other U.S. carrier that still flies 747s. Delta also plans to get rid of its remaining 747s by the end of this year, replacing them with long-haul Airbus models including the A330 and the new A350.
It will be interesting to see whether Delta or United throws a better send off celebration. In today’s announcement, Kirby said, “we’ll honor the 747 with an unforgettable retirement celebration — we’ll keep you posted with more details on her final flight in the months ahead.”
We’ll be watching on that bittersweet day.
A fond farewell to Cathay’s Queen of the Skies at SFO in 2014 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
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RichLL says
January 12, 2017 at 6:44 amUntil they don’t, of course.
And the 777 competes more with the A330 than the A340. There are a lot of A330’s flying around.
ATLDavid says
January 12, 2017 at 5:50 amIt saddens me that no US airline will fly the 747 any longer. It had an incredibly smooth ride and offered unique flying opportunities. I cannot think of another aircraft off the top of my head where you can actually sit further forward than the pilot. That was a unique feeling on takeoff. Also, the upper deck really is like a separate aircraft. When Lufthansa had first class up there that was also a real exciting experience.
Tony says
January 11, 2017 at 10:10 pmyeah that seems rational, considering all the thousands of flights that take off daily with no issues. Airbus had the same idea as you but thats why the 777 destroyed the A340 in sales.
Kirk says
January 11, 2017 at 7:07 pmOk, I think he was meant for the majority of passengers. Only 5% of a 747’s passengers are seated on the 2nd floor
Kirk says
January 11, 2017 at 7:06 pmI think it’s almost certain that both DL and UA will do a farewell 747 flight that zigzags across the country, likely stopping in each hub city. However, that historic flight will be insanely expensive
Salvatore Johnson says
January 11, 2017 at 5:59 pmI also love sitting in the business class section in the bubble. Makes you feel like your on a plane with a dozen people.
RichLL says
January 11, 2017 at 5:15 pmYes and i don’t buy the “better on-board experience” of more modern planes either. Nothing beats the bubble of a 747.
RichLL says
January 11, 2017 at 5:13 pmEven more significant is the fact that once United and Delta get rid of their last 747’s, no US airline will have any plane with more than 2 engines. To my knowledge they own no A340’s and A380’s. And L-1011’s, 727’s and MD-11/DC-10’s, the planes with 3 engines, are all long gone too although I see DC-10’s sometimes on freight duties.
Might be some BAe 146’s or Avro RJ85’s around, I suppose.
Shame – i always feel a little safer with 4 engines, and especially since Sully.
Salvatore Johnson says
January 11, 2017 at 4:52 pmWonder if there are any United 747s flying domestically any more?
I know they aren’t on European flights, they are only used to fly to Hong Kong and Australia. Would love to fly on it one more time, it is the greatest plane ever built.
Kirk says
January 11, 2017 at 11:46 am“The earlier retirement of the planes will put United on a schedule similar to Delta”. THERE’s the real reason. United execs usually just copy whatever Delta does.