Tag Archives: 747-200

PIA to retire its last Boeing 747 “within a month”

PIA-Pakistan International Airlines (Karachi) is planning to retire its last Boeing 747 (ex-Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-367 AP-BFY, msn 23920) within a month according to a report by Business Recorder. The report quotes PIA Chairman Nasser Jaffer in a recent interview with BR Research.

AP-BFY is currently being used on the high-density Hajj charters to Saudi Arabia. The last Jumbo, soon out of time, will be replaced by two wet-leased Boeing 767s according to the report.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

The retirement will end a long association with the Boeing 747 Jumbo. PIA introduced the Boeing 747-200B in 1976. The airline commenced Boeing 747-200B operations (below) with two leased TAP Air Portugal Boeing 747-282Bs on May 5, 1976 from Karachi and Islamabad to London (Heathrow) and New York (JFK).

Pakistan International Airlines is celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2015.

Top Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. Sister ship, Boeing 747-367 AP-BFU (msn 23392), now retired, is pictured visiting Manchester in the last (2010) color scheme.

PIA aircraft slide show:

Below Copyright Photo: Jacques Guillem/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-240B AP-BAT (msn 22077) taxies at Orly Airport in Paris in the original 1976 livery.

Video:

Virgin Atlantic plans to operate the last Boeing 747 flight from Heathrow in April 2016

Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) has tentatively scheduled the last Boeing 747-400 revenue flight for Heathrow Airport with an arrival on April 18, 2016 in London. According to Airline Route, the last planned flight is currently flight VS 006 departing Miami at 9:50 pm (2150) on April 17, 2016 and arriving the next day (April 18) at London (Heathrow) at 11:30 am (1130).

Virgin Atlantic has operated the Boeing Jumbo since its inception on June 22, 1984. The pictured ex-Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 747-287B G-VIRG (msn 21189) (above), named “Maiden Voyager”, operated the first Virgin Atlantic flight between London (Gatwick) and Newark.

Top Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-287B G-VIRG (msn 21189) holds short of the runway, ready for departure from Gatwick Airport. Click on the photo for the large view (note the humorous painted-on painter falling off the tail and dropping red paint on the fuselage).

Virgin Atlantic aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Virgin Atlantic added the first Boeing 747-400 on April 28, 1994 with the arrival of Boeing 747-4Q8 G-VFAB (msn 24958) “Lady Penelope”. Sister ship Boeing 747-4Q89 G-VBIG (msn 26255) arrives at London (Heathrow).

Kam Air to transition to an all-Airbus A320 fleet

Kam Air (Kabul, Afghanistan) has announced it will retire and change its Boeing fleet to an all-Airbus A320 fleet. The airline posted this short statement:

Kam Air plans to introduce a fleet of all Airbus A320 aircraft only to replace its existing Boeing fleet.The project to be completed in 6 months.

Top Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Kam Air). Boeing 747-281F 4L-TZS (msn 24576) is pictured at Sharjah wearing a 2012 livery.

Kam Air aircraft slide show:

Kam Air current fleet:

Route Map:

Video TV commercial (in Afghan):

Baltia Air Lines enters Phase III of the FAA Air Carrier Certification

Baltia Air Lines (Ypsilanti-Willow Run) has been documenting each step of its long FAA Part 121 certification process. The proposed airline was planning to operate from the United States to the Baltic region, especially St. Petersburg, Russia with a former Northwest Airlines Boeing 747-251B (N706BL, msn 21705). However given the current tensions with Russia over the Ukraine, that business plan may be evolving as this press release now only mentions Europe. The prospective airline has issued this update:

Baltia Air Lines (BLTA) announced on October 10 that it has entered into Phase III of the FAA Air Carrier Certification.

Phase III consists of the Table Top Exercise, Mini-Evacuation Demonstration, and Proving Flights. “Passing through Phase II was a major accomplishment in the Certification Process,” stated Sheryle Milligan, Chief of Operations.

Baltia Air Lines is America’s newest airline, currently undergoing Air Carrier Certification. Baltia’s principal base of operations is at Willow Run Airport, Michigan. Upon Certification, Baltia will operate Boeing 747 aircraft across the Atlantic, from the U.S. nonstop to Europe.

This service is subject to receipt of government operating authority.

Photo: Baltia Air Lines.

Philippines retires its last Boeing 747

Philippines-Philippine Airlines (Manila) today (September 1) operated its last Boeing 747 revenue flight. The last flight with a Boeing 747-400 touched down from San Francisco early this morning at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, ending an era that has spanned 35 years according to Philippine Flight Network.

The Boeing 747 entered service with Philippine Airlines in December 1979, when the carrier took delivery of its first Boeing 747-200B. PAL added its first Boeing 747-400 in November 1993.

Boeing 747-4F6 RP-C7473 (msn 27828) operated the last flight. RP-C7473 departed San Francisco on August 31 for the last time with 285 passengers on board according to PFN.

Read the full story with photos from Philippine Flight Network: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Sister ship Boeing 747-4F6 RP-C8168 (msn 27827) was a familiar sight at Los Angeles International Airport.

Philippines-Philippine Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: SM Fitzwilliams Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-2F6B N741PR (msn 21832) holds short of the runway at London’s Gatwick Airport.

Cathay Pacific to retire the last passenger long-haul Boeing 747-400 on August 31 on the San Francisco route

Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong) will operate its last long-haul scheduled Boeing 747 passenger flight to San Francisco on August 31. The last departure will be from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hong Kong. The company will continue to operate Boeing 747 freighters and the 747-400 on some short-haul Asian routes (Beijing, Manila, Osaka Kansai, Sapporo, Shanghai Pudong, Taipei Taoyuan and Tokyo Haneda per Airline Route).

To mark the historic occasion, Cathay Pacific is running a “Farewell 747 Giveaway” contest. 20 winners will receive a Boeing 747 model. CLICK HERE for the details.

The inaugural flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong via Vancouver was flown on a Boeing 747-200B on July 1, 1986.

Above Copyright Photo: Cathay Pacific.

Top Copyright Photo: KSK/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-467, the Queen of the Skies, B-HOY (man 25351) in the 1994 livery gracefully climbs away from the runway at Tokyo (Haneda)

Cathay Pacific:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-267B VR-HIE (msn 28872) taxies at Zurich in the original 1971 green and white color scheme.

Video: Trip Report on a CP Boeing 747-400:

Philippines to retire the last Boeing 747 in May

Philippines (Philippine Airlines) (Manila) will retire 20 aging aircraft from its fleet this year including its last Boeing 747-400 later in the month of May. The 747s are being replaced by newer Boeing 777-300 ERs.

Read the full report from the Business Mirror: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-4F6 RP-C8168 (msn 27827) climbs away from the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

Philippines Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. PAL has been a long-time Boeing 747 operator. This historic photo shows Boeing 747-2F6B N741PR (msn 21832) with special Mabuhay! Chicago sub-titles at Zurich.

Baltia Air Lines is still in the FAA certification process

Baltia Air Lines (Ypisilanti) has been one of the longest-running start-ups in U.S. aviation history. The company acquired former Northwest Airlines/Kalitta Air Boeing 747-251B N706BL (msn 21705) on December 9, 2010 and has been proposing scheduled airline service from New York (JFK) to the Baltic region, especially St. Petersburg, Russia for several years. With the invasion of Crimea by Russia, is this route still viable for tourism?

Route Map: A previously proposed route map.

Each step in the certification process has been well documented by the upstart. Here is the latest press release:

Baltia Air Lines announced yesterday (April 4) that its Boeing 747 aircraft has entered scheduled maintenance inspection in preparation for its operations. Baltia is America’s newest airline currently undergoing air carrier certification. Baltia’s base of operations is at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

On their website, the company describes itself:

Baltia Air Lines, Inc. (BLTA) is a New York corporation headquartered at JFK International Airport in New York with a base of operations at Willow Run Airport outside of Detroit, Michigan. Baltia’s goal is to become the leading U.S. airline in the trans-Atlantic market between the major U.S. cities and capital cities of Eastern Europe, including Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Baltia will provide high quality three-class passenger service, and reliable cargo and mail transportation.

All images courtesy of Baltia Air Lines.

ANA to retire its last Boeing 747 on March 31 with JA8961

ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) is planning to operate its last revenue flight (NH 126) with the Boeing 747-400 on March 31 between Naha, Okinawa and Tokyo (Haneda) according to ZipanguFlyer. The last revenue flight is scheduled to be operated with 747-481 (D) JA8961 (msn 25644). The last ANA Boeing 747-400s are the high-density domestic version of the Boeing 747-400 that seat 565 passengers and were developed specifically for the Japanese market.

Read the full report with all of the details from ZipanguFlyer: CLICK HERE

ANA introduced the Boeing 747 (the special short range 747SR-81) with JA8134 (msn 21605) with the hand over from Boeing on December 20, 1978. The first Boeing 747-281B (JA8175, msn 23502) came later on July 2, 1986. Trans-Pacific service was then launched to Los Angeles with the new type on July 16, 1986. Finally the first Boeing 747-481 (JA8094, msn 24801) joined the ANA fleet on August 28, 1990.

The Boeing 747 has faithfully served ANA for over 35 years. It will seem strange not to see a Boeing 747 with the company.

Copyright Photo: Marco Finelli/AirlinersGallery.com. Looking back in the past, Boeing 747-281B JA8181 (msn 23698) is seen at Rome (Fiumicino).

ANA:

Kalitta Air acquires the 12 ex-Northwest Boeing 747-200Fs from Delta

Northwest Airlines Cargo Boeing 747-222B (SF) N645NW (msn 23736) LAX (Roy Lock), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Kalitta Air (2nd) (Ypsilanti) has acquired the retired fleet of 12 ex-Northwest Airlines Cargo Boeing 747-200F freighters from Delta Air Lines.

Copyright Photo: Roy Lock. Boeing 747-222B (SF) N645NW (msn 23736) of Northwest Airlines taxies to the cargo parking spot at Los Angeles before the merger.