Queen of the Skies

The selection of flights that would allow passengers onboard a Boeing 747 went down drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Jan. 31, 2023, Boeing delivered the last Boeing 747 ever built to its owner, Atlas Air. The delivery marks an end to the iconic jet’s 54-year production run at Boeing’s Everett factory, with a total of 1,574 units built. It also marks a real end to an era in aviation regarded by many to […]

Virgin Atlantic Airways recently announced that its brand-new Airbus A330neo will be named “Queen of the Skies” with royal registration G-VEII, in tribute to the late monarch. Queen Elizabeth II — the country’s longest-serving monarch — passed away on Sep. 8, after reigning for seven decades. The new aircraft will enter the transatlantic services in […]

On Oct. 8th, British Airways’ last 747 touched down at Cotswold Airport in Kemble, England after 26 years in the sky. While it may be the end of its days as a commercial jet, this 747 isn’t done serving the public. By spring 2021, the aircraft will be permanently parked at Cotswold Airport and converted […]

The global COVID-19 crisis has impacted aviation profoundly as airlines quickly adapt to crippling demand for air travel and a new reality of border restrictions, grounded jets and seeing sub 20 percent flight load factors. Over 85 airlines across the globe have announced a temporary halt in flight operations and almost all carriers are working […]

When Qantas flight QF74 departed San Francisco for Sydney on Tuesday, it ended an era that started with one of its predecessors nearly a half-century ago, Qantas Boeing 747 service between Australia and America. In the latest milestone in its long history of transpacific flying, Qantas has retired its last Boeing 747 from American skies […]

Iran’s largest privately-owned airline recently reactivated an aircraft that was stored in 2010. Mahan Air’s EP-MNB performed a test flight on Aug. 27, 2019 according to ch-aviation and began commercial flights on Sept. 4. The aircraft was first delivered to Mahan Air in 2009 and flew for just over one year before it was stored […]

Inevitably, the Queen of the Skies is winding down from regular commercial service. EVA Air, one of the few remaining Boeing 747 operators, is retiring the freighter variant from its Taipei to Los Angeles, officially ending the aircraft type’s service for the company. EVA took delivery of its first Boeing 747-400 on Nov. 2, 1992.  […]

As Qantas continues scaling back the use of its Boeing 747-400 aircraft on transpacific routes, a spokesperson from the airline has confirmed to AirlineGeeks that another U.S. route will see the jumbo jet disappear this summer. On Aug. 28, the Sydney to Honolulu route will revert back to the Airbus A330-300 after seeing service with […]

For the better part of the last half-century, Qantas’ Boeing 747s have been flying to the United States from Australia, a staple of U.S-Australia connections. With Qantas’ impending retirement of the aircraft in favor of its next-generation aircraft, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, however, only one remaining transpacific route from Australia to the […]