The iconic jumbo jet that transformed global air travel.
First flight
1969
Category
Wide-body jet
Seating
366–524 passengers (variant dependent); up to 660 in all-economy configurations
Range
Up to 14,815 km (747-8)
Engines
Four turbofan engines; variants powered by Pratt & Whitney JT9D/PW4000, GE CF6, Rolls-Royce RB211, or GE GEnx
Status
In service (primarily freighter; passenger use declining)
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial jet airliner first introduced in 1970 by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the world's largest passenger aircraft for over three decades and is instantly recognizable by its distinctive double-deck forward fuselage and hump. The 747 revolutionized long-haul air travel by dramatically reducing per-seat costs and making intercontinental flight accessible to a far broader public.
Produced in numerous variants including the 747-100, -200, -300, -400, and -8, the aircraft has served passenger, freighter, and combi roles across its long production run. The 747-400 became the most commercially successful passenger variant, featuring winglets and a two-crew glass cockpit. The latest version, the 747-8, offers a stretched fuselage, improved fuel efficiency, and updated GEnx engines.
Although passenger operators have largely retired the 747 in favor of more fuel-efficient twin-engine widebodies, the aircraft remains in widespread use as a freighter. Boeing announced the end of 747 production, with the final aircraft delivered in February 2023, closing a production run of over 50 years.
Notable operators
Major operators have included British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Atlas Air, among many others.
Notable facts
›The 747 was the world's largest commercial passenger aircraft from 1970 until the Airbus A380 entered service in 2007.
›It introduced the wide-body twin-aisle cabin layout to commercial aviation.
›The Boeing 747 has carried more passengers than any other aircraft type in history.
›A modified 747-200 served as the NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, transporting Space Shuttle orbiters.
›Final 747 delivery occurred in February 2023, ending a production run of over 1,574 aircraft.
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.
