IATA 743ICAO B743

Boeing 747-300

Boeing

TravelerPulse profile

The stretched upper-deck 747, bridging classic and modern widebodies.

First flight

1982

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

400–500 (typical three-class ~400)

Range

12,400 km

Engines

Four turbofan engines (JT9D, CF6, or RB211 depending on customer selection)

Status

Mostly retired

The Boeing 747-300 is a wide-body, four-engine jet airliner developed as a derivative of the 747-200, featuring a significantly extended upper deck that increased passenger capacity and improved boarding efficiency. Launched in the early 1980s, it was the first 747 variant to offer a full-length stretched upper deck with straight stairways, accommodating up to 91 passengers in that section alone. The -300 entered service in 1983 and found customers among major international carriers seeking higher capacity on long-haul routes. It retained the same basic fuselage length as its predecessors but gained improved aerodynamics from the extended upper deck fairing, resulting in a modest cruise speed increase. Production of the 747-300 was relatively limited, with 81 aircraft built before Boeing shifted focus to the more advanced 747-400. Most 747-300s have since been retired from passenger service, though some have transitioned to cargo or charter roles.

Notable operators

Swissair, UTA, KLM, Qantas, and South African Airways were among the major operators of the 747-300.

Notable facts

›The 747-300 introduced the stretched upper deck (SUD) that became standard on all subsequent 747 variants.
›The extended upper deck added approximately 7 metres of usable length to the upper cabin.
›Only 81 aircraft were built, making it one of the least-produced 747 variants.
›The upper deck extension provided a small aerodynamic benefit, raising cruise speed slightly to Mach 0.85.
›The 747-300 was superseded by the more fuel-efficient and technologically advanced 747-400, which entered service in 1989.

Read more on Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The Boeing 747 is a long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2023. It was conceived in response to the demand of Pan Am for a jet 2+1⁄2 times the size of the 707, which had been introduced in October 1958, to reduce the airline's seat cost by 30%. The design team was led by Joe Sutter, who left the 737 development program in 1965 to design the 747. In April 1966, Pan Am ordered 25 Boeing 747-100 aircraft, and in late 1966, Pratt & Whitney agreed to develop the JT9D engine, a high-bypass turbofan. On September 30, 1968, the first 747 was rolled out of the purpose-built Everett Plant, the world's largest building by volume. The 747's first flight took place on February 9, 1969, and the 747 was certified in December 1969. It entered service with Pan Am on January 22, 1970. The 747 was the first airplane called a "Jumbo Jet" as the first wide-body airliner.

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