The iconic jumbo jet might soon be just part of the history of airplanes. Not a single one has boon sold this year and Boeing has already cut its production twice. Most airlines simply don’t want planes anymore – they burn too much fuel and there simply are not enough passengers to fill them. Airlines now fly smaller planes several times a day instead. And new technologies allow jet with just two engines to fly the same distance with less fuel.
The 747 once stood alone, with more seats than any other jet and a range of 6,000 miles, longer than any other plane. Before this plane International travel was mostly limited to those who could afford the pricy flights. The 747 changed that. The first 747s could seat twice as many passengers as the preferred international jet of the time, the Boeing 707. That made tickets twice cheaper and a vacation on the other cost of the Atlantic was not saved just for the wealthy anymore. Nowadays there are a lot more affordable flights to choose from. And the majority travelers want more than one flight to choose from.
This does not mean that the Boeing 747 will be soon in the past. Boeing says it’s committed to the 747, and sees a market for it in regions like Asia. Marketing chief Randy Tinseth says the economic downturn of the past five years has hurt 747 sales. Still, he says, “We think that market will come around.” Even if it doesn’t, 747 fans can take heart. Most planes last three decades or more, so there will be some 747s in the skies for a long time.
