In a beautiful ode to the aircraft written by pilot and author Mark Vanhoenacker in the New York Times in October, he explained how: For pilots, crew members and passengers who love the 747, it’s easy to forget that the airliner was first of all a business proposition, one that aimed to harness economies of scale and a raft of new technologies to cut the seat-per-mile cost of air travel by about 30 percent. The bulk of the fleet is old, and getting older. The decision was announced in a memo to its pilots on Wednesday. Almost all classic (pre-400s) 747s predate 1989 (the last nine were delivered in 1989–91), and the oldest -400 entered service in 1989 this month. The planes are at a 'boneyard' in Arizona, a salvage facility where planes are sent to be stored. Six Airbus A380 double-deckers, seven Airbus A340-600 and five Boeing 747-400 aircraft would not return to the airline’s fleet. "Eight thousand [feet] makes us pucker," said Hanlon. Paul Gallaher was retiring with the final flight of Delta's Boeing 747 fleet. The Jumbo ferried to Marana, Arizona on September 30 as flight DL 9950 for final disposition. According to Business Insider, he explained that it had started to become a struggle to maintain. According to Investopedia, fuel accounts for 10-12% of operating expenses. Both four engine aircrafts, the 747 and A380 have become an increasingly costly economic choice in an aviation environment where more efficient models such as the two engine Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 are available for long-haul flights. Gallaher made the first commercial landing of the 747-400 when it arrived at the airline's then-headquarters in Minneapolis after delivery from Boeing. And I'll do the same for you going to the desert," said Hanlon. The final resting place for “Victor Delta” will be Castellon de la Plana (CDT) in Spain, where she is scheduled to arrive at 1:06 p.m. local time To follow her final journey, click here. The remaining seven will be retired in 2017. "We'd like to welcome you to the boneyard," said Stephanie Nelson the trip's lead flight attendant. You have no notifications. Following the retirement of its 18 777s, Delta’s long-haul routes will be flown exclusively by the company’s A330s and A350-900s. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is bringing forward the retirement of its last few Boeing 747 passenger aircraft amid the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. The retirement will accelerate the airline’s strategy to simplify and modernize its fleet, while continuing to operate newer, more cost-efficient aircraft. At around 6,800 feet, Marana's runway is an extremely tight fit for a 747. After the jumbo cleared end of then runway, Gallaher called "going around," the order to begin climbing again. Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced on Thursday that the airline will permanently retire its Boeing 777 fleet by the end of the year. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to retire older A320s instead? Currently Delta has only 16 747s in their fleet. Former United CEO and current executive chairman Oscar Munoz shared precisely why his company decided to retire the jet. 747s are operating in august so it isn't July. Back in the cockpit, Gallaher was readying the jet to fly. Cathode ray tubes -- like old TVs -- were once state of the art displays for pilots. Delta dubbed this 747-400 Ship 6301. I would think the global recession of 2009 caused loss of cargo demand. Many came out to bid the plane farewell, even on an unusually cold Atlanta winter morning. The 747-400, a 1980s technology update to the jumbo, dates itself. The global movement of people isn’t slowing down. The final commercial flight of a Boeing 747-400 operated by a US carrier hit the tarmac in Detroit today. "Paul called me up, said 'hey, Steve, how about jerking gear for me? The reason behind this short-notice decision for an early retirement is the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis and resulting travel restrictions around the world. We don’t have a date yet for the phaseout, but we know the day of the final flight of a unique 747 model that KLM is the only airline flying in the world: a half-cargo, half-passenger hybrid known as the Combi. The iconic jumbo jet has been fading since the late 1990s. American carriers who used to operate the Boeing 747 included American Airlines, Delta and United. British Airways retired its last two Boeing Co. 747 airliners, marking the end of the line for one of the largest fleets of the iconic jumbos. British Airways retired its last two Boeing Co. 747 airliners, marking the end of the line for one of the largest fleets of the iconic jumbos. Delta Capt. Delta Air Lines said it plans to further accelerate the retirement of its Boeing 747 fleet. Delta is the last U.S. passenger airline to fly the jumbo jet dubbed the “Queen of the Skies.” The 747 fleet is set to be retired by the end of 2017. "Now we say farewell, to the queen, the last queen, it's her last voyage, her last touch down. Get on that distinctive front upper deck while you still can. #21202753. These planes are typically operated on long-haul international flights and are equipped with some of the best of Delta’s business elite seats. Not only is the actual labo… For the first time in 48 years, you can't buy a ticket on a US airline to fly on a. It currently operates nine 747-400s and will retire two by the end of the year. The global 747 fleet peaked at more than 1,000 in 1998. Almost all classic (pre-400s) 747s predate 1989 (the last nine were delivered in 1989–91), and the oldest -400 entered service in 1989 this month. The 747 "stops on a dime. These aircraft are all less than 12 years old. That said, when the 747-100 first debuted with its iconic, double-decker shape in 1969, it was nothing short of an aviation revolution. His final time at the controls of a Delta 747. Hanlon led the final walk-around inspection. BY blacksoviet - Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:01 pm - Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:01 pm #22492123. Delta Air Lines became the last major US airline to operate the 747. The 747 had two stints with Delta. #22492123. The UK airline is the world's largest operator of the jumbo jets, with 31 in the fleet. Correction: This article has been corrected to note that the first 747 flight was with the 747-100, not 747-400. Gallaher, 64, was retiring with the 747 fleet. Six minutes later, the 18 wheels on the 747 touched the pavement on the runway and the half-million pound airliner rolled to a stop passing the long row of Delta 747s already in retirement. Stephen Hanlon, 62, Delta's chief 747 pilot, who was in command of the final flight. Delta Air Lines marked the retirement of its Boeing 747s this week with a six-city tour, the last U.S. airline to retire the jumbo jet. Delta. United retired its last 747 in November, leaving only Delta. Delta Plans to Celebrate the Retirement of Their 747-400 Fleet. In addition, as Quartz reported last month, the rate at which airlines are flying new flights with the A380, known as a “super jumbo jet,” is also at its lowest ever—which means the plane could also one day meet the same fate as the 747. The Atlanta-based airline currently operates 16 747-400 aircraft. It took a full 15 minutes to walk around the 231-foot, 10-inch long jumbo. BY blacksoviet - Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:01 pm - Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:01 pm #22492123. Both Delta and United Airlines have been saying goodbye to the jumbo for months. According to several media reports, KLM will retire its 747s in 2021. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all, Meet the youngest female commander of a Boeing 777, 20 planes for flying buffs -- from Boeing to Airbus. Simple, really. "This is going to be a Navy landing," said Hanlon, a reference to the hard landings required to stop a fighter jet on the small deck of an aircraft carrier. Yet on a planet that previously only the richest could cross at will, the 747’s most lasting impact may have been on everyday notions of distance and difference. Delta retired its last 747 passenger plane in January, marking the final flight by a U.S. carrier. ", There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Simple, really. Delta has been american avgeeks last hope involving the queen. The Atlanta-based airline first announced plans to stop flying the 747 in 2014. While the sheer size of the 747 is its most famous attribute, that wasn't primarily why the 747 that attracted many of the world's airlines. Delta Airlines flight 158 arrived from Seoul just before the aircraft embarks on its farewell tour, with stops in Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles later this this week. That’s 30 years ago. MIAMI — Delta Air Lines took delivery of its very last factory-fresh Boeing aircraft—the 130th 737-900(ER) to join its fleet.From now on, what used to be one of Boeing’s largest customers, has only scheduled for delivery brand-new Airbus planes. So once we get on the ground, you're going to feel the deceleration.". According to Business Insider, he explained that it had started to become a struggle to maintain. Tour a Boeing 747 at the Delta Flight Museum. Delta has only just begun retiring its B747 from service, but did so last month with the first of its B747 retirements after the aircraft flew from Tokyo Narita to Honolulu. The 747 had two stints with Delta. Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. Delta plans to retire its 18 widebody Boeing 777s by the end of 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earning the moniker "queen of the skies," the 747 was postage stamp famous, an icon of pop culture, and the backdrop of movies, television and a flying emblem of the US presidency as Air Force One. These are some of our most ambitious editorial projects. "He had the first landing and I'm going to have the last landing," said Hanlon, who has been a 747 captain since spring 2000, Gallaher was just a few months ahead. Gallaher, Hanlon's friend of more than 30 years, was a first officer on the first 747-400 delivered to Northwest Airlines in 1989. United retired its fleet in November, and British Airways announced its plans to retire the last of its three dozen 747s in 2024. "Everybody stands up at the terminal and goes to the glass and they go 'that's a 747'," said Capt. The last of the airline's 16 jumbo Boeing 747-400s flew to a desert retirement, ending. Enormous four-engine jets like the 747 and the even larger Airbus A380 haven't sold in significant numbers in recent years. He's flown with Delta and its merger predecessor, Northwest Airlines, since 1983 and was a captain on the 747 for 18 years. Delta ordered the Boeing 737-900(ER) three times—100 planes in August 2011, further 20 in December 2015, and 10 more in April 2017. When I think of the 747, two airlines come to mind — British Airways and Lufthansa. United Airlines will retire its fleet of Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets by the end of 2017. We don’t have a date yet for the phaseout, but we know the day of the final flight of a unique 747 model that KLM is the only airline flying in the world: a half-cargo, half-passenger hybrid known as the Combi. Delta isn’t the only airline retiring the plane this year in favor of newer, cheaper, more fuel-efficient alternatives. The analog settings on the autopilot bounce with each turn of the knob. By comparison, one of the longest runways at Narita Airport in Tokyo is more than 13,000 feet long, while tiny LaGuardia Airport in New York City is 7,000 feet. The words "Business Insider". Delta Air Lines is giving customers and employees a chance to fly on the Boeing 747 before the carrier retires the fleet. Pan American Airways debuted the enormous two-deck airliner in January 1970, and flights by US passenger airlines have been flying uninterrupted ever since. KLM first introduced the 747 in 1971, at that time a 747-200, and was therefore originally planning to end its history with the aircraft type exactly 50 years later, in 2021. While the 747 will continue to be used as a cargo plane in the US—as well as being the aircraft of choice for that most important passenger: the President of the United States—its overall days as a commercial aircraft are likely numbered. Delta Air Lines Inc. retired its first Boeing 747-400 aircraft Sept. 9 after its final flight from Honolulu International Airport to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The older an aircraft gets, the more costly it becomes to operate. Boeing's (BA) 747 jets have been replaced by other narrow-body and cost-effective jets, such as the 777 and 787, and Airbus' A330 and A350 jets, over the years. After 27 years of service — first with Northwest Airlines — then with Delta after the two airlines merged in 2008, it was time to retire Ship 6301 last year. British Airways has said it will retire all of its Boeing 747s as it suffers from the sharp travel downturn. The airline had originally planned to retire the Boeing 747 jets by 2024 and gradually replace them, but with passenger numbers plummeting due to coronavirus they have been forced to … Air China has three Boeing 747-400s and seven Boeing 747-8Is. The Atlanta-based airline currently operates 16 747-400 aircraft. A final domestic revenue flight, a last international trip, a final charter. As part of its plan to retire its aging Boeing 747-400 fleet in the next few years, Qantas Airways has sent another one of its 747s to the Mojave Desert for a permanent rest. USER_MINI_PROFILE. Delta’s 747 jumbo jets can hold 376 passengers. In many ways, it was a symbol of the beginning of mass air travel, offering anywhere from just over 400 to more than 600 seats, depending on the cabin configuration. That's when smaller twin-engine jets like the Boeing 777 really began filling fleets. Delta Air Lines announced plans to retire 25% of its 747 fleet in 2014. Delta, the only remaining U.S. passenger airline to fly the 747, is retiring the plane from its fleet and taking the “Queen of the Skies” on a farewell tour with a stop in Atlanta. Critics go ballistic over 'Notorious A.C.B' T-shirts the 747 isn't as fuel efficient as cost effective as some other aircraft such as the 777 and the 787. ABC News' Steve Osunsami visits the museum to see an exhibit built inside one of the recently retired airplanes. Settings WELCOME_INDEX, Bing [Bot] NO_PMS_INFO It carried on using its 747-400s right up until 2017. On January 3, Delta Air Lines Flight 9771 touched down in Marana, Arizona, an arid boneyard for stored and cannibalized jetliners. These aircraft are all less than 12 years old. The airline retired its last 747 in 2012. of . The retirement will accelerate the airline’s strategy to simplify and modernize its fleet, while continuing to operate newer, more cost-efficient aircraft. But now low-cost long-haul carriers like Norwegian have proven that passengers will not only tolerate it, but flock to it (if the price is right). Secondly, the older an aircraft becomes, the more maintenance it requires. of . Korean Air has a fleet of two Boeing 747-400s. The planes are at a 'boneyard' in Arizona, a salvage facility where planes are sent to be stored. Photo: Delta Air Lines Hard to maintain. It only announced the retirement in the summer of 2014 when it said it would use … In 1976, Singapore Airlines redesigned its first class upper-deck to create 'slumberettes' - 6 custom divans that turned into beds. On the whole, commercial airlines have been phasing out jumbo jets like the 747 in favor of leaner, more efficient aircrafts. But this departure on ship 6314 was the true grand finale. I was told by a 747 pilot for delta airlines that the 747 will be retired on some month that starts with a J the 31st. Kick off each morning with coffee and the Daily Brief (BYO coffee). It carried on using its 747-400s right up until 2017. Ultimately, the age of the type has reduced its efficiency across the board. She is a craft from the dawn of the computer age. So I enjoyed the heck out of my one flight on the top deck of a 747. Delta had previously flown its last commercial passenger flight aboard a 747-400 on December 19, from Seoul to Detroit. The Rock gives his first-ever presidential endorsement. Enjoy! Delta. Gallaher flew the jumbo down to 20 feet on its final pass over the runway. Why would Delta retire this iconic long-range aircraft that it only recently retrofitted with new seats? Passenger expectations are also shifting; once it was inconceivable to fly a single aisle aircraft such as the hyper-efficient Boeing 737 Max 8 across the Atlantic. There are still 185 flying paying passengers around the world, according to. The bulk of the fleet is old, and getting older. Former United CEO and current executive chairman Oscar Munoz shared precisely why his company decided to retire the jet. When it comes to aircraft, the phrase “age ain’t nothing but a number” doesn’t really apply. The final commercial flight of a Boeing 747-400 operated by a US carrier hit the tarmac in Detroit today. "There you go. These are the core obsessions that drive our newsroom—defining topics of seismic importance to the global economy. According to Bastian, the decision was made due to the drop in travel demand caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Delta still has A320s from 1990. Who will buy the 73Gs? Unlike Fincher, Nancy Cobb said she’s been on the 747 before. Many bought jumbo 747s because of their incredible endurance. #22492123. On the 747’s upper deck, another Delta flight attendant stood, taking in the moment with friends and co-workers. Delta plans to retire its 18 widebody Boeing 777s by the end of 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The retirement marks the end of a 50-year relationship between BA and the 747, ... (recreating the route of its first 747 service in 1970). Delta operates the 747 in the US for the longest. Delta is expected to release details soon. Seahawk celebrates too soon, loses TD at goal line. Former United CEO and current executive chairman Oscar Munoz shared precisely why his company decided to retire the jet. Six minutes later, the 18 wheels on the 747 touched the pavement on the runway and the half-million pound airliner rolled to a stop passing the long row of Delta 747s already in retirement. On Saturday, the Dutch flag-carrier published a general overview on how it will handle the current crisis. And with DL only … Delta has only just begun retiring its B747 from service, but did so last month with the first of its B747 retirements after the aircraft flew from Tokyo Narita to Honolulu. Many times. The remaining 747s still in the air that are operated by US airlines are represented by a few charter jets and cargo operators. Why did Delta retire the 737-700? Delta employees, customers and aviation enthusiasts have been eagerly flying the airline’s remaining Boeing 747-400s since Delta said in 2014 that it would retire the Queen of the Skies at the end of 2017. We’ve seen airlines around the world retire the 747 long before the current pandemic, given that there are more fuel efficient and lower capacity long range planes nowadays.. This seat density paired with the 747s long flying range made far-flung destinations both attainable and affordable. Delta has announced their plans to retire the last of their 747 fleet by 2017. Having inaugurated the “age of mass intercontinental travel,” wrote the scholar Vaclav Smil, the 747 “became a powerful symbol of global civilization.”. Those last trips became more of a farewell tour than a formal end. On Thursday, Delta separately announced significant cutbacks to its Pacific operations. In 2018 Delta proclaimed the Airbus A350 is the flagship of its fleet, replacing the Boeing 747. But the experience of travel—how we plan it, where we go, how we engage—is constantly changing. Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced on Thursday that the airline will permanently retire its Boeing 777 fleet by the end of the year. Delta Air Lines announced plans to retire 25% of its 747 fleet in 2014. Reviewing paperwork, programming the flight computers and ensuring the jumbo would perform just as it would on any normal flight. Delta retired the prototype on Sept. 9, 2015, after it had logged 61 million miles. Delta Ship 6301 made its first flight with Northwest Airlines in December 1989, and has logged more than 61 million miles, enough to make 250 trips from the Earth to the moon. But that does not mean the 747 is going away completely. Photo: Delta Air Lines Hard to maintain. According to Bastian, the decision was made due to the drop in travel demand caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Delta Air Lines became the last major US airline to operate the 747. I’ve outlined five reasons, some stated, some conjecture on my part, to explain this unexpected move. As a result, the German airline indicated that it would retire some of its biggest gas-guzzlers. United and Delta were the last two U.S. carriers to utilize 747 … The reason? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to retire older A320s instead? Delta dubbed this 747-400 Ship 6301. Last year Delta followed suit, sending its last 747 … That’s 30 years ago. Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) as planned, retired three ex-Northwest Airlines Boeing 747-400s on September 30: N671US (fleet number 6311) performed its last revenue flight on September 30 from Paris (CDG) to Detroit as flight DL 99. Why did Delta retire NWA's 747-200Fs that they were operating? UA857. Posts: 547; Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 3:41 am; USER_STATUS: OFF_LINE; Re: Why did Delta retire NWA's 747-200F? Delta sent its final 747 to retirement in Arizona with one last party in the sky. Delta sent its final 747 to retirement in Arizona with one last party in the sky. Ship 6314 left the ground for the last time in Atlanta weighing a spritely 518,000 pounds, about 20% of which was jet fuel. The 747 was a marvel of engineering when it first flew months before the first moon landing in 1969. RIP my queen. Last edited by blacksoviet on Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total. According to several media reports, KLM will retire its 747s in 2021. Why did Delta retire the 737-700? © 2021 Quartz Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Thai Airways has a fleet of seven 747-400 aircraft. Furthermore, three Airbus A340-300, which were operated by Lufthansa Cityline, would also be retired permanently. Delta, the only remaining U.S. passenger airline to fly the 747, is retiring the plane from its fleet and taking the “Queen of the Skies” on a farewell tour with a stop in Atlanta. According to Business Insider, he explained that it had started to become a struggle to maintain. If you want to book a flight on one of Delta Air Lines' Boeing 747s, the clock is ticking. Northwest later merged with Delta. Flight computers with green type on black screens and blocks of backup gauges with spinning needles have long been obsolete. While international carriers British Airways, Lufthansa, and Korean Air will still continue to fly the jumbo jets for passenger flights for some time, Delta’s retirement of the 747 signals the end of an era of sorts—one that’s been a long time coming. Delta Air Lines. Gallaher's last command flight had been the day before, flying a charter with Hanlon to get the Clemson Tigers football team back home to South Carolina. Delta Air Lines surprised us all yesterday by announcing it would retire its Boeing 777 fleet by the end of 2020. The airliner originally planned to retire its fleet of Boeing 747s in late 2020 but the coronavirus pandemic forced the plans to be brought forward by six months. Today Delta retired the first Boeing 747-400 aircraft ever built for a commercial airline, after its final flight from Honolulu to Atlanta. Virgin Atlantic has a big fleet of eight Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The four engines accelerated and the 747 climbed back in to the sky for one last circle. A three-hour-and-33-minute journey from Atlanta. The 747 had two stints with Delta. Another senior Delta captain, Paul Gallaher, was making his final flight, too. Air France code shares with Delta, and they had 747s, while Delta did not. Delta retired its last 747 passenger plane in January, marking the final flight by a U.S. carrier. BY TheFlyingDisk - Wed Mar 20, 2019 3:16 am - Wed Mar 20, 2019 3:16 am #21202753. Photo: Delta Air Lines Hard to maintain. It could fly just as far, and airlines didn't have to worry about filling all the seats. The decision was announced in a memo to its pilots on Wednesday. Related: 5 reasons why the British Airways Boeing 747 was so special. The 747 is an incredibly special plane.It changed global aviation, and it’s also the most gorgeous plane in the world, in my opinion. Capt. After 27 years of service — first with Northwest Airlines — then with Delta after the two airlines merged in 2008, it was time to retire Ship 6301 last year. Shaking hands with fuelers and ground handlers who had looked after the airplane. "Jerking gear" is a pilot euphemism for flying co-pilot and controlling the landing gear. Avgeeks, take heart: even with United’s retirement and Delta’s planned send off, you can still catch a flight on a 747 if you fly internationally. On Thursday, Delta separately announced significant cutbacks to its Pacific operations. Those retirements accelerated as Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and Airbus's A350, which Hanlon will fly next, came along. The pictured N672US… Delta Air Lines Boeing 747-400s sit in the desert awaiting their fate after being retired from the airline's fleet. When Delta retires its final 747, it’ll mark the end of four-engine aircraft in US passenger service (three-engine aircraft have been out of fleets for years). Delta still has A320s from 1990. Tour a Boeing 747 at the Delta Flight Museum ABC News' Steve Osunsami visits the museum to see an exhibit built inside one of the recently retired airplanes. It only announced the retirement in the summer of 2014 when it said it would use the Airbus A350 and A330neo to replace the 747s. Firstly, as technology develops, newer aircraft of similar size and range achieve higher rates of fuel efficiency. Before the final touchdown, the 747 would swoop low over the desert runway. Make it happen," said Hanlon. I later confirmed January by looking on Delta.com. Steve Hanlon, the airline's chief 747 Pilot, was in command of the flight. Our emails are made to shine in your inbox, with something fresh every morning, afternoon, and weekend. 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