Sierra Nevada Corporation has recently acquired five Boeing 747-8 aircraft, marking a significant shift in the aviation landscape. The iconic Boeing 747, often referred to as the ‘Jumbo Jet,’ is becoming a rare sight in passenger service. As of early 2024, only three airlines were still using the Boeing 747 for scheduled passenger flights. However, by 2025, this number unexpectedly rose to four, illustrating that the retirement of these aircraft doesn’t always follow a straightforward path. The Boeing 747-400 and 747-8 models are still in operation for passenger services, but they face stiff competition from more fuel-efficient aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350, which offer significantly lower fuel consumption per seat. While the 747 remains a favorite for cargo and specialized roles, its days as a commercial passenger aircraft are numbered.
The increase from three to four airlines operating the 747 was largely due to Rossiya Airlines. After years of airlines moving away from the less efficient, four-engine Boeing 747s in favor of twin-engine models, Rossiya reintroduced some Boeing 747-400s into their fleet. This decision was influenced by Western sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector, which led to the seizure of numerous aircraft and forced Russia to rely on older models. The situation is further complicated by Russia’s difficulties in maintaining modern aircraft like the A320neo and A321neo, impacting airlines such as S7 Airlines. In September 2024, Russian media outlet Kommersant reported that Rossiya Airlines, part of the Aeroflot Group, would bring back the Boeing 747-400. These aircraft were initially acquired in 2016 after the Aeroflot Group took over part of the fleet from the defunct Russian airline, Transaero. Meanwhile, Boeing is preparing the 747-8s to serve as the new Air Force One jets, which were also originally intended for Transaero but never delivered.
Rossiya currently has five Boeing 747-400s, with two actively flying. These planes, averaging 25 years in age, are primarily used on domestic routes within Russia, such as flights from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport to Sochi and Magadan. Other airlines, like Air China, continue to operate a small number of Boeing 747s, keeping the legacy of the Jumbo Jet alive, albeit on a much smaller scale.
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Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
