Tag: Fly

The Boeing 747 is one of the most iconic aircraft to ever grace the skies. Since its entry into commercial service in January 1970 with Pan Am, the 747 has attracted attention and admiration from avgeeks and passengers around the world. However, only a limited number remain in service today.

Using data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, we examine where and with which airlines the Boeing 747 is still flying in 2025. But first, let’s take a brief look at the history of the 747.

The Boeing 747 project began in 1968, when the US manufacturer wanted to meet Pan Am’s needs by building an aircraft that was more than twice as large as the 707. Several variants have been produced over the years, culminating in the modern 747-8. The most popular variants were the 747-400, with more than 440 examples built, followed by the 747-200, of which Boeing produced over 220 examples.

Air China

Operates both the Boeing 747-400 and 747-8

Air China still has a total of nine Boeing 747s in its fleet – two 747-400s and seven 747-8s (although one of the 747-8s is used exclusively for VIP operations). Throughout 2025, the carrier plans to operate a total of 4,199 flights with its fleet of 747s. All aircraft are based at Air China’s Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) hub.

Photo: Fasttailwind | Shutterstock

All but one of Air China’s Boeing 747 routes in 2025 are domestic services, with the carrier deploying the aircraft on flights to major Chinese cities, including Guangzhou (CAN), Shanghai (SHA), and Shenzhen (SZX). It makes sense for Air China to use its 747s on such popular routes, given the aircraft’s impressive passenger capacity.

The Star Alliance member has its Boeing 747-400s configured in three classes, carrying up to 344 passengers in total – 10 in first class, 42 in business class, and 292 in economy class. The larger and more modern 747-8 also comes equipped with a premium economy class. Air China’s 747-8s can carry up to 365 passengers in a four-class configuration – 12 in first class, 54 in business class, 66 in premium economy, and 233 in economy class.

Photo: Soos Jozsef | Shutterstock

The domestic routes due to be operated by Air China’s Boeing 747s through November 2025, with the number of flights in each direction, are:

Air China’s only international flight operated by the Boeing 747 comes in the form of a four-weekly service between Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Perhaps unsurprisingly, the carrier deploys its flagship 747-8 on this high-profile route.

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Korean Air

A limited number of Boeing 747-8 services

The latest data from ch-aviation shows that Korean Air operates a fleet of eight Boeing 747s, all of which are the 747-8 variant. One of the carrier’s 747-8s is reserved for VIP usage, leaving seven to operate passenger services.

Through November 2025, Korean Air will operate a total of 1,643 flights across four different routes from its hub at Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN). These are:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

All four routes will be flown on a daily basis with the Boeing 747-8 through to March 31st, 2025. Then, from April 1st, 2025, Korean Air will operate just one route with its 747-8s – deploying the aircraft on two flights per day between Seoul and Los Angeles through to the end of the year.

The rest of the SkyTeam member’s widebody flights are operated by a varied fleet of Airbus A380s, A330-300s, Boeing 777-200ERs, 777-300ERs, 787-9s, and 787-10s. Korean Air also has outstanding orders for the Airbus A350 (both the -900 and -1000 variants) and the Boeing 777X.

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The route will become much more premium.

Korean Air’s Boeing 747-8s can each carry up to 368 passengers, split across three different cabins – six in first class, 48 in business class, and 314 in economy class. One of the carrier’s 747-8s, registered as HL7644, was the last ever passenger 747 to be built by Boeing, and was delivered to the airline in August 2017.

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Lufthansa

The world’s largest operator of the Boeing 747

By far the largest commercial operator of the Boeing 747 in 2025 will be Lufthansa. Over the course of the year, the German flag carrier has a total of 10,987 flights scheduled to be operated by its substantial fleet of 27 747s. This is made up of eight 747-400s and 19 747-8s, making it also the largest operator of the latter.

Photo: Fabian Joy | Shutterstock

All of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747 routes will be operated from the carrier’s primary hub at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The flights due to be operated by the 747-400 between January and November, 2025, are:

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Meanwhile, Lufthansa will operate an even greater selection of worldwide routes with its Boeing 747-8s through November 2025, as illustrated in the table below, showing the number of flights in each direction:

Photo: Robert Sarosiek | Shutterstock

Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-400s can carry up to 371 passengers in a three-class configuration – 67 in business class, 32 in premium economy, and 272 in economy class. Meanwhile, its 747-8s have a more premium-heavy configuration and also feature a first class cabin, reducing the total capacity slightly to 364 – eight in first class, 80 in business class, 32 in premium economy, and 244 in economy class. The carrier’s aging 747-400s are due to be replaced by the upcoming 777X, when the airline takes delivery of the aircraft from 2028 onwards.

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Aeroflot

Deploys Rossiya Boeing 747-400s on domestic routes

Aeroflot has so far planned a total of 755 flights with the Boeing 747 through November 2025. All services will be operated by the Russian flag carrier’s subsidiary Rossiya Airlines, which operates a fleet of nine Boeing 747-400s. The airline’s 747-400s are each configured to carry a staggering 522 passengers in total – 510 in economy class and just 12 in business class.

Photo: Fasttailwind I Shutterstock

Aeroflot deploys Rossiya Airlines’ Boeing 747-400s on six different domestic routes from its hub at Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) – Sochi, Ignatyevo, Ugolny, Sokol, Khabarovsk Novy, and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The number of flights planned through November 2025 in each direction is listed in the table below:

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