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 last Boeing 747, an iconic aircraft known as the "Queen of the Skies" that transformed air travel and global trade, was delivered to Atlas Air on January 31, 2023, marking the end of its 56-year production.
Originally designed with freight capabilities in mind, the 747 revolutionized aviation with its unique nose-loading feature, economies of scale, and distinct two-deck configuration, making air travel more accessible.
Despite the end of manufacturing and the retirement of many passenger variants, the modern 747-8 freighters are anticipated to remain a crucial part of the global supply chain for several more decades.

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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.