The sun is setting on the Boeing 747 as production will be coming to an end by 2023 after over 50 years, its manufacturer announced on Wednesday, and cargo airlines may have the most to lose.
Passenger airlines have been all too eager to say goodbye to jets like the 747 in recent years through efforts to lean their fleets, opting for smaller aircraft that can operate more cost-effectively. Once a symbol of luxury and extravagance in the skies, flying the 747 is now likely seen by most airline revenue analysts as wasteful, especially with plummeting demand no longer warranting its cavernous passenger cabins.
But while the passenger airlines are saying goodbye, cargo carriers are still welcoming the Jumbo Jet with open arms. Among the final recipients of the 747 are two cargo-haulers, UPS Airlines and the Volga-Dnepr Group.
It comes as no surprise since very few planes can hold more freight than the 747 thanks to its unique design intended to carry as many passengers as possible. And cargo carriers have shown that they can still make use of the planes that airlines have discarded, even decades later.
The 747 will likely stick around flying freight for another at least another 20 years after the last one is delivered but when it does eventually disappear from the skies, there's one feature that cargo carriers will likely miss the most.