The Last 747, Queen of the Skies

The last 747 has rolled off Boeing's production line, but the iconic jumbo jet still has plenty of history to make.

Eric Kulisch

Friday, November 17, 2023 at 12:40 PM ET

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An artist's rendition of the 747-8 freighter version. [Courtesy of Boeing]

Key Takeaways:

The iconic Boeing 747 "Queen of the Skies" ceased production with the final 747-8 freighter delivered to Atlas Air on January 31, 2023, marking the end of a manufacturing era after 56 years.
The 747 profoundly transformed air travel, making it accessible to the average person, and revolutionized global trade, especially air freight, with its unique design and cargo capabilities.
Despite the end of production and the phasing out of passenger variants, the 747-8 freighters are expected to remain a vital part of the global supply chain for several more decades, with Atlas Air being the largest operator.

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The last 747 has rolled off Boeing’s production line, but the iconic jumbo jet still has plenty of history to make.

Atlas Air took delivery of a 747-8 freighter on January 31, 2023, marking the end of an era for an iconic aircraft that transformed air travel and made it accessible to the average person. From the 747-100 to the 747-400, and then the modern 747-8, The Boeing Company built both passenger and freighter versions, and many used 747s that began in passenger configurations were converted to freighters by third-party engineering firms.