Which Airlines Still Fly the 747?

The Boeing 747 was dubbed the Queen of the Skies and the Jumbo Jet.

Its introduction in 1969 heralded a new era in widebody aircraft (it was the first example of this), and allowed airlines to fly huge numbers of passengers on routes previously served by smaller propliners or first generation jets.

Because of its size, comfort and the hype surrounding it, the 747 became a legend of the skies and popular with passengers, celebrities and airline accountants who loved the profits it could make.

Fast forward to 2021 and the days of the Jumbo Jet are numbered.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, many of the airlines still flying the type decided to retire them ahea of when they originally planned. This means very few passenger examples are still flying, replaced instead by cheaper and more fuel efficient twin types like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Even the most recent 747-8 model is scarce, with very few airlines still flying passenger examples.

Which Passenger Airlines Still Fly the 747?

747-8I KAL #1506-RC051

A 747-8 of Air China

• Air China, China
• Air India, India
• Asiana Airlines, South Korea
• Atlas Air, USA
• Iraqi Airways, Iraq
• Korean Air, South Korea
• Lufthansa, Germany
• Mahan Air, Iran
• MaxAir, Nigeria
• Rossiya Airlines, Russia

Cargo 747 Operators

Konstantin von Wedelstaedt (GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html> or GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>), via Wikimedia Commons

Thankfully the 747 has always been popular as a freighter, with dedicated examples and converted passenger aircraft still flying in large numbers. Airlines flying cargo variants of the 747 include:

• Aerostan, Kyrgyzstan
• Aerotrans Cargo, Moldova
• Air Atlanta Icelandic, Iceland
• Air China Cargo, China
• Asiana Airlines, South Korea
• ASL Airlines Belgium, Belgium
• Atlas Air, USA
• CAL Cargo Airlines, Israel
• CargoLogicAir, UK
• Cargolux, Luxembourg/Italy
• Caspian Airlines, Georgia
• Cathay Pacific Cargo, Hong Kong
• Challenge Airlines, Belgium
• China Airlines, Taiwan
• China Southern Cargo, China
• Fly Pro, Noldova
• Geo-Sky Airlines, Georgia
• Iran Air, Iran
• Kalitta Air, USA
• Korean Air, South Korea
• Longtail Aviation, Bermuda
• Martinair, Netherlands
• MyCargo Airlines, Turkey
• National Airlines, USA
• Nippon Cargo Airlines, Japan
• Polar Air Cargo, USA
• Qatar Airways, Qatar
• Qeshm Air, Iran
• Ruby Star Airways, Belarus
• Saudia, Saudi Arabia
• SF Airlines, China
• Silk Way Airlines, Azerbaijan
• Singapore Airlines Cargo, Singapore
• Sky Gates Airlines, Russia
• Suparna Airlines, China
• Terra Avia, Moldova
• Trans Avia Export Cargo Airlines, Belarus
• UPS Airlines, USA
• Volga-Dnepr Airlines (AirBridge Cargo), Russia
• Western Global Airlines, USA

[Preserved Boeing 747s Around the World – Our Guide]

VIP 747 Operators

Korean Government 747

There are also a number of private operators of the Boeing 747, including governments, military and VIPs. These include:

• Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight
• Bahrain Amiri Royal Flight
• Dubai Air Wing
• General Electric Co, USA
• Government of Morocco
• Iranian Air Force
• Kuwait Government
• NASA
• Oman Royal Flight
• Republic of Korea Air Force, South Korea
• Saudi Arabian Government
• Turkish Air Force
• US Air Force (including Air Force One presidential transports)
• Virgin Galactic, USA

For an up-to-date list (where possible) of Boeing 747 passenger routes around the world, visit our page here:

Boeing 747 Routes