This has been a bad year for the Boeing 747. As the pandemic has made larger, four-engine aircraft less attractive, carriers have accelerated retirement plans for the Queen of the Skies. Now another airline, China Airlines, has indicated it...
British Airways Defends Its Decision To Retire 747
British Airways abruptly retired its fleet of Boeing 747-400 aircraft over the summer, blaming COVID-19. But the newly-installed CEO now touts the decision as a huge boost to British Airways’ sustainability efforts. British Airways Defends 747 Retirement Speaking at...
747 Wins Fat Bear Week In Alaska
As we close the week, a bit of humor…I think we all need it. Our story takes us to Alaska, where a very fat bear, aptly called 747, has just won a very special honor. 747 Grizzly Bear Wins...
Farewell Photo Tour: British Airways 747-400
As British Airways retires its fleet of Boeing 747-400s without so much as a domestic farewell flight, Live and Let’s Fly is offering the next best thing possible, a photo walkthrough in memory of the Queen of the Skies....
50 Years Ago Today: Queen Of The Skies Debuts On United Airlines
50 years ago today United Airlines debuted a new aircraft type, the Boeing 747-100. A half century later, the Queen of the Skies remains a beloved aircraft and symbol of beauty. July 23, 1970: United Debuted 747 United took...
British Airways Retiring 747 Fleet…Maybe?
Another chapter nears an end for the storied Boeing program, as British Airways prepares to retire its 747 fleet. But three words still give me hope… British Airways Will Retire Its 28-Aircraft 747 Fleet British Airways is the largest...
Boeing Debates Future Of 747 Program
A furious internal debate at Boeing over the future of the 747 program will either extend the life of the program or end it by 2022. Supply Concerns Threaten Future Of Boeing 747 Program The problem is Triumph, which...
So Cool: Final EL AL 747 Flight
Yesterday, EL AL operated its final Boeing 747-400 flight. The sendoff included a “special” routing enroute from Tel Aviv to Rome. Via Flightradar 24, take a look at the flight path of LY1747. The 747 “drew” a 747 over the...
My Bath With A KLM 747-400
Earlier this week I had the chance to spend a night at the brand-new Grand Hyatt at San Francisco International Airport. Not only did I score a nice suite upgrade, I had an incredible view from the bathtub. The...
A Retired United 747 Returns To The Skies
Since late 2017, most of United’s former 747-400s have been gathering dust in California’s Mojave Desert, becoming little more than a relic of the past. But one United 747 has just returned to the skies. A toss-up question: which...
British Airways Schedules 747 On Domestic Flights
August 25, 2019 is shaping up to be a special day on British Airways, including the chance to catch 747-400s on six domestic flights. It was on August 25, 1919 that Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T), a forerunner...
British Airways’ Stunning New 747 Paint Job
British Airways has unveiled its new 747 retro paint job and I am very impressed… Last month, I wrote about BA’s plan to repaint one of its Boeing 747-400s with classic British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) livery. British Airways...
