IATA 744ICAO B744

Boeing 747-400

Boeing

The iconic Queen of the Skies, defining long-haul travel.

First flight

1988

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

416 (3-class typical); up to 524 (2-class)

Range

13,450 km

Engines

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

Status

In service (declining passenger use; active in cargo)

The Boeing 747-400 is the most successful variant of the legendary 747 family, featuring a stretched upper deck, winglets, and a modernized glass cockpit that reduced the flight crew from three to two. It entered service in 1989 and quickly became the dominant widebody aircraft for high-capacity long-haul routes worldwide. With a range exceeding 13,000 km, the 747-400 connected major intercontinental routes and could carry over 400 passengers in a typical three-class configuration. Its distinctive double-deck hump and four-engine layout made it one of the most recognizable aircraft in aviation history. Although many passenger operators 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 several airlines and continues to have a strong presence in the cargo market as the 747-400F and 747-400ERF variants.

Notable operators

Major operators have included British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, KLM, Air France, and Japan Airlines, with Atlas Air and Cargolux operating freighter variants.

Notable facts

›The 747-400 introduced 6-foot winglets, improving fuel efficiency by around 3%.
›Its glass cockpit eliminated the need for a flight engineer, reducing crew from three to two.
›The 747-400ER extended-range variant can fly up to 14,205 km.
›Over 690 Boeing 747-400s were delivered between 1989 and 2009.
›It held the title of the world's largest commercial airliner until the Airbus A380 entered service in 2007.

This profile is AI-generated 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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