IATA 744ICAO B744

Boeing 747-400

Boeing

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Iconic jumbo jet that revolutionized long-haul air travel.

First flight

1988

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

416 (3-class) to 524 (all-economy)

Range

13,450 km

Engines

4 × high-bypass turbofans (GE CF6-80C2, PW4056, or RR RB211-524G/H)

Status

In service (declining passenger use; active in freighter roles)

The Boeing 747-400 is the most successful variant of the legendary 747 family, introduced in the late 1980s as a significant advancement over earlier models. It features winglets, a redesigned two-crew glass cockpit eliminating the flight engineer position, and an extended upper deck, offering improved fuel efficiency and range over its predecessors. The aircraft entered commercial service with Northwest Airlines in 1989 and quickly became the dominant long-haul widebody for airlines worldwide. Its high passenger capacity and intercontinental range made it the backbone of transoceanic routes for decades. While many airlines have retired the type in favor of more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and 787, the 747-400 remains in service with a number of carriers, particularly in freighter configuration as the 747-400F and 747-400ERF variants.

Notable operators

Major operators have included British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, and Qantas, with many aircraft now operated by cargo carriers such as Atlas Air and Cargolux.

Notable facts

›First 747 variant to feature winglets, improving fuel efficiency by around 3–4%.
›The two-crew glass cockpit removed the need for a dedicated flight engineer for the first time in the 747 line.
›Over 694 aircraft of the 747-400 series were built, making it the highest-produced 747 variant.
›A specialized variant, the 747-400ER, offered extended range for ultra-long-haul routes operated by Qantas.
›The 747-400 served as the basis for the U.S. Air Force's VC-25A presidential transport, known as Air Force One.

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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 747-400 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, as an advanced version of the original Boeing 747. The model, first introduced as the Advanced Series 300, was announced at the September 1984 Farnborough Airshow, targeting a 10% cost reduction with more efficient engines and 1,000 nautical miles [nmi] range increase. Northwest Airlines became the launch customer with an order for ten aircraft on October 22, 1985. The first 747-400 was rolled out on January 26, 1988, made its maiden flight on April 29, 1988, received type certification on January 9, 1989, and entered service with Northwest a month later on February 9, 1989.

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