How Many Passenger Flights Does The Boeing 747 Fly In A Month?

The Boeing 747 is without doubt one of the most iconic planes on the market, and was the biggest passenger plane on the earth for a very long time, till the Airbus A380 took the title. Its giant measurement and passenger carrying capability made the 747 worthwhile for airways, flying essentially the most dense hub-to-hub routes. After being launched in January 1970, with Pan American World Airways as its launch buyer, the 747 would go on to be manufactured till as not too long ago as 2023, with a complete of 1,574 examples produced.

Solely a tiny portion of 747s ever constructed are nonetheless in service, and passengers wishing to take pleasure in a flight on the world’s first partial double-decker jetliner have just a few choices remaining earlier than the 747 is gone from industrial passenger use endlessly. This text intends to analyze what number of 747 flights are being made immediately, and with which airways and on which routes the 747 is flying.

Airways That Function Passenger 747 Flights

As beforehand talked about by Easy Flying, there have been 4 passenger airways working scheduled Boeing 747 passenger flights on the earth. Between these airways, solely 44 Boeing 747s remained in service, together with parked plane. All plane in query had been both the latest 747-8 variant, launched in 2011, or the earlier 747-400 variant, launched in 1989. The airways and the variety of 747s owned are proven beneath:

In accordance with Flightradar24, there have been a complete of three,269 passenger flights operated by the Boeing 747 within the earlier month of Could, throughout the summer time vacation journey peak in Europe. Nigeria’s regional airline, Max Air, was additionally included among the many above airways, as an operator of 747 flights. As of August, Max Air operated three 747-400s, in accordance with Airliner World.

Nevertheless, the airline was recognized to have despatched two of its three 747-400s for retirement by 2023. Earlier that yr, Max Air additionally got here underneath investigation by the Nigeria Security Investigation Bureau (NSIB) following a 737-400 tire bursting incident in Could, so there could also be some uncertainty in regards to the fleet owned by the airline. That stated, the next are the variety of 747 flights made within the month of Could, exhibiting that no less than a few of Max Air’s 747s are lively:

The 747 Flew 1,460 Occasions In September

The latest information from Cirium exhibits a drop-off for 747 flights scheduled within the colder month of September, with 1,460 flights. Notably, Max Air was lacking from the record of 747 operators for the month, with 541,567 seats out there throughout all flights. As anticipated, Lufthansa had essentially the most flights scheduled over essentially the most routes. The flights are damaged up by airline and listed beneath:

Lufthansa is the airline with essentially the most 747s on the earth. As of June 2025, the airline operates 27 747 plane, together with 19 Boeing 747-8s and eight Boeing 747-400s. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the principle hub of the airline, with many routes originating there. All of the 747 routes scheduled for September will depart from and return to this hub. Likewise, Air China’s 747s are primarily based out of Beijing Capital Worldwide Airport (PEK), Korean Air’s 747s at Incheon Worldwide Airport (ICN), and Rossiya’s (Aeroflot) at Sheremetyevo Worldwide Airport (SVO).

As talked about earlier, Lufthansa and Air China fly each 747-8 and 747-400 variants, whereas Korean Air solely flies 747-8s and Rossiya solely flies 747-400s. The Lufthansa route from FRA to JFK is flown by each variants, with 17 return flights scheduled to be flown by the 747-8 and 13 by the 747-400. The Air China PEK to SHA route can be flown by each variants, with 26 return flights scheduled to be flown by the 747-8, and three by the 747-400.

One other Airline That Flies The 747

Within the feedback made on the Flightradar24 piece with information concerning 747 flights in Could, it was identified that there’s one other airline that additionally flies the 747, however was not included within the overview:

“In the event you write a bit then do analysis. Mahan repeatedly flies with Boeing 747-400 from Tehran to Kish Island and Mashad.”

Later, one other consumer speculated: “This isn’t a route out there to many and perhaps why it was omitted.”, and it’s fascinating that each of those routes are very quick, and clearly regional flights. Tehran to Kish Island is simply 565.4 nautical miles, and Tehran to Mashad is simply 406.8 nautical miles, in accordance with Air Miles Calculator. Because it turned out, there was much more to the story, as one other remark defined:

“In accordance with the British Excessive Courtroom, three 747-400s had been unlawfully taken by Mahan Air from their actual proprietor, Blue Sky Airways, in 2008, utilizing cast payments of sale. When ordered to deliver the plane again to Europe, Mahan claimed it couldn’t accomplish that as a result of it was being investigated by the Iranian authorities for fraud, and the plane needed to be stored in Iran.”

Investigating Mahan Air, there may be some controversy across the privately owned Iranian airline, largely for cooperating with governments not aligned with the European Union and US pursuits. Nonetheless, the airline operates to places within the Far East, Center East, Central Asia, and Europe. Hilariously, no less than two of the 747s listed in its fleet had been ordered grounded, with a invoice of sale to be introduced by Mahan, in accordance with Casemine, but the plane remained in use, except for a quick retirement. This may increasingly clarify their quick, native routes and exemption from the 747s counted all over the world.

The 747 Stays A Busy Airplane Throughout Industrial Aviation

Whereas the passenger 747 has been common prior to now, and is a fan favourite amongst passengers, the 747 has had an excessive amount of success within the freight trade. The 747-400 is essentially the most produced variant of the Jumbo household, with 694 examples constructed and round 255 remaining in use immediately, making it the most typical 747 variant round. The vast majority of these 747-400s are freighters, which embrace transformed passenger 747-400s.

A number of 747s additionally stay in use within the non-public sector, and the one two 747s on the earth which might be nonetheless but to be delivered are closely modified Air Pressure One 747-8i passenger variants, that are anticipated to be prepared in 2027. These two plane had been anticipated to be delivered in 2024, however had been pushed again as a consequence of varied points, together with provide chain issues, wiring design errors, workforce shortages, and a dispute with an inside contractor, in accordance with Enterprise Insider.

The 747 boasts nice cargo-carrying skills due to its generously spacious inside and highly effective lifting capability. The 747’s largest draw back is its low gasoline effectivity, due to its heavy weight and 4 engines. Whereas the 747-8 noticed some enhancements, due to being geared up with fashionable turbofan engines, the variant continues to be handily outperformed within the space of gasoline effectivity by the smaller twin-jets of immediately, and whereas they might be higher for the long-haul passenger market, that is much less of an element for freight and personal markets.