Why are 747s no longer used?
The Boeing 747 was too expensive for a number of reasons, but a primary factor influencing the airline’s decision to retire the jet was the introduction of a new fuel-efficient alternative twinjet. But over the last few decades, airlines have pushed aircraft manufacturers for more fuel-efficient planes to reduce costs. Two-engine jets can now fly near the same capacity and fly farther than older, four-engine planes like Boeing’s 747 and the Airbus A380.
How many 747’s are still flying?
In all, around 424 Boeing 747 family aircraft remain in active airline service around the world, with the bulk being freighters. The world’s leading operators are Atlas Air (61), UPS Airlines (43), Cargolux (30), Lufthansa (27), Kalitta Air (22), and Cathay Pacific (20). The short answer: the Airbus A380 is definitely much bigger than the Boeing 777-300ER, except for one dimension – the length. The Airbus A380 is the world’s largest passenger aircraft in nearly every metric: wingspan, height, weight, and passenger capacity.When measured by nearly every standard aviation metric, the Airbus A380 is bigger than the Boeing 747. The A380 is the largest passenger aircraft ever built. It has a greater wingspan, taller tail height, higher maximum takeoff weight, and significantly more cabin space than the 747.Size breakdown: 🔹 The Boeing 747-400, an iconic long-haul airliner, is dwarfed by the Airbus A380, the largest passenger jet. The Antonov An-225 Mriya, originally designed for carrying the Soviet Buran space shuttle, remains the biggest cargo aircraft in history.As such, the 747’s fuselage is overall larger than the 777, even if it isn’t as long. The plane’s tail is also significantly larger than that of the Boeing 777, and of course, the 747-400 is heavier. While the two aircraft have similar wingspans, the 747’s actual wing is much larger than the 777’s.
Why is the 747 no longer popular?
For decades, it was unmatched in scale and prestige. Yet the very qualities that made it iconic — its size, its four engines, its grandeur — eventually became reasons for its retirement. As travel patterns shifted and efficiency became king, the 747 could no longer compete. Yes, a Boeing 747 is larger than a Boeing 777. Here is what their outlines look like if you stack one on top of the other: The red aircraft is a 747-400, and the blue aircraft is a 777-200. I’ve matched them up by the nose gear for reference.The Verdict In terms of physical size, the 747 is larger overall, with a longer fuselage, greater wingspan, and towering height.
How many 747s have crashed?
As of October 2025, a total of 65 Boeing 747 aircraft, or just above 4% of the total number of 747 built, first flown commercially in 1970, have been involved in accidents and incidents resulting in a hull loss, meaning that the aircraft was either destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair. The 737, Thomas adds, still has a better safety record than the 747. And nobody would ever hesitate to get on board a 747,” he says. One of the things about aviation, as time goes by, is that manufacturers and airlines learn from their mistakes, and put systems in place to ensure they don’t make them again.