Tag Archives: Boeing 747

Delta customers, employees begin saying ‘goodbye’ to iconic Boeing 747-400

Delta Air Lines issued this statement:

Delta customers and employees began saying their goodbyes to the airline’s iconic Boeing 747-400 fleet as the aircraft operated its final Tokyo-Narita to Honolulu flight. It then made a rare appearance on two domestic flight legs earlier this month.

After arriving in Honolulu from Tokyo-Narita for the last time, the aircraft was routed through Los Angeles on its way back to Detroit. The flights from Honolulu to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Detroit were expected to be the final domestic 747 flights by any U.S. airline before two 747s were sent from Detroit to Orlando last week to help assist with Hurricane Irma evacuation efforts.

Employees in Honolulu paid tribute to the aircraft, which regularly operated the Honolulu-Narita route, with traditional Hawaiian customs by fashioning a maile lei big enough to fit over the top of the aircraft as a sign of respect (below). The team also held a gate celebration, and several employees held back tears as the group sang Aloha Oe and watched the aircraft depart Honolulu for the last time.

Photo Above: Delta Air Lines.

The Los Angeles team also had a chance to say their goodbyes to the “Queen of the Skies.” Employees lined the ramp at LAX and waved orange wands as it made its late-night departure to Detroit. Employees in Detroit met the aircraft when it landed, though the 747 will continue flying through Detroit for a few more months.

A group of 50 Delta Diamond Medallion customers joined in on the festivities as well. When one member of a Diamond Medallion Facebook group saw that the 747 would be flying two domestic legs, he notified other members of the group, who jumped at the chance to take one last flight on the aircraft. The group booked nearly the entire Delta One cabin and some of the Main Cabin as well, and they flew in from all over the country to catch one last ride on the 747.

Additionally, employees in Los Angeles hosted a reception for the group in the Delta Sky Club, and each member of the group received model 747 aircraft as a parting gift. All customers on the flight received commemorative ear buds in celebration of the final scheduled domestic flight.

Delta expects the remaining 747s in its fleet to be retired by the end of 2017. The retiring aircraft will be replaced by the Airbus A350.

Top Copyright Photo: Delta Air Lines Boeing 747-451 N663US (msn 23818) NRT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 913623.

Endangered Species List:

United Airlines moves up the retirement date of its last Boeing 747

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United Airlines today (January 11) issued this statement to its employees:

“There’s something very special about a Boeing 747. It’s the one aircraft that even casual travelers can easily identify. And we know that the experience of traveling on one, or flying one, is unforgettable.

As deeply connected as we all are to this iconic aircraft, the time has come to retire our 747 fleet from scheduled service. Last March, we announced that this would occur by the end of 2018; now we plan to operate our last 747 flight in the fourth quarter of this year.

It’s a bittersweet milestone — this jumbo jet with its unmistakable silhouette once represented the state-of-the-art in air travel. Today, there are more fuel-efficient, cost-effective and reliable widebody aircraft that provide an updated inflight experience for our customers traveling on long-haul flights.

For these reasons, we’re saying farewell to the Queen of the Skies, which has been part of our fleet since we first flew the aircraft between California and Hawaii in 1970.

We’ll be working with all of you who fly or work on the 747s to ensure a smooth transition to other fleets. Our forward-looking fleet plan will cover 747 replacements and anticipated growth opportunities. And of course, we’ll honor the 747 with an unforgettable retirement celebration — we’ll keep you posted with more details on her final flight in the months ahead.

Thank you for all that you are doing. I am so proud and excited about the great future we’re building together as we create the best airline in the world.

Sincerely,

Scott Kirby – President, United Airlines

Lufthansa Group to hire more than 4,000 new employees in 2016

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Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa) (Frankfurt) has made this announcement about its hiring plans for 2016:

The Lufthansa Group is hiring more than 4,000 new employees in 2016, giving the organization a top position amongst the leading German companies. “We are proud that yet again this year the companies of the Lufthansa Group are able to offer many people an exciting new outlook and attractive working conditions in the aviation industry. For many applicants the Lufthansa Group is a dream employer. We are therefore even more pleased that we can fulfill this dream for 4,000 people,” says Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

Flight Attendants

The main focus of the new recruiting will be the flight attendant training. In 2016 approximately 2,800 flight attendants will be hired in various locations and for different airlines of the Lufthansa Group:

Lufthansa 1,400 (800 in Frankfurt and 600 in Munich)
Swiss 800 (in Zurich)
Eurowings 360 (in Vienna, Düsseldorf and Hamburg)
Austrian Airlines 200 (in Vienna)
Lufthansa CityLine 30 (in Munich)

Interested parties can find more information at the following link:

https://www.be-lufthansa.com/en/jobs-and-apprenticeship/flight-attendant-mf/

Lufthansa Flight Attendants

Lufthansa flight attendants will start in the Frankfurt and Munich hubs on short, medium and long- haul destinations. Basically Lufthansa offers two kinds of entry-level contracts:

A permanent position with a part time factor of 83 percent in which flight attendants fly full time in summer and part time in winter.
A two year contract with a part time factor of 50 percent which can be extended once every two years. In this model flight attendants work full time in summer followed by six months free time. Entry to this type of contract is possible from November to January.

In both models salary and social insurance are paid over twelve months. New employees take training courses over twelve weeks in order to become flight attendants. Interested parties who are at least 18 years old and who have completed their secondary education may apply directly to www.be-lufthansa.com.

Flight Attendants for Eurowings Europe in Vienna

The newly founded Eurowings Europe starts off the year with modern A320 jets flying to attractive locations in Europe. Under the umbrella brand Eurowings the new airline with its headquarters in Vienna will in future offer an attractive flight program. Interested parties who are at least 18 years old and who have passed their secondary school examinations may apply to:

www.aircrew-service.de/eurowings_karrierecenter/

Pilots for Eurowings and Austrian Airlines

This year the Lufthansa Group is hiring 240 pilots, of which 140 will be for Eurowings in Austria and Germany and 100 for Austrian Airlines. Both first officers and captains are wanted. Further pilots are needed for SunExpress in Germany. The joint subsidiary of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines operates long-haul flights on behalf of Eurowings. Interested parties will find information about requirements and may apply for a place in the cockpit at the following links:

www.career.aero/eurowings/

www.career.aero/sunexpress

Service Staff at Munich Airport

This year the Lufthansa Station in Munich is looking for 150 new employees for their passenger service at Munich Airport. The new colleagues will be deployed in taking care of passengers at the check-in or at the Lufthansa transfer and ticket counters in the multiple award winning Terminal 2. Lufthansa will hire station employees for one year on a full time basis. Interested parties with an intermediate school leaving certificate and a good knowledge of both spoken and written English may find further information here:

https://www.be-lufthansa.com/en/jobs-and-apprenticeship/customer-service/

Further Vacancies and Apprenticeships

Just as it does every year, in 2016 Lufthansa will be giving numerous apprentices a start in their professional career. The beginners will be trained in over 30 different careers at different locations. Moreover the organization is also looking for more employees in various areas of the company. Interested parties may find detailed information about possibilities to enter the Lufthansa organization and requirements under http://www.be-lufthansa.com. Applications may be sent exclusively via the career portal. Deutsche Lufthansa AG

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:

Air France announces the last Boeing 747 flight over France

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Air France (Paris) has announced a special milestone event in January with the last revenue flight for its Boeing 747 after a long career with the Jumbo type:

On January 14, 2016, Air France is offering customers a unique experience on a special tribute flight over France, with views of the country’s legendary landmarks.

More than 45 years after the first Boeing 747 flight from Paris to New York on June 3, 1970 – on the aircraft that became widely known as the Jumbo Jet – Air France salutes the last flight of this legendary and distinct aircraft on flight AF747.

Flight AF747 will take off on January 14, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The experience will include a Business class lunch and champagne for all passengers, with special inflight commentary and tour of France’s history and legendary landmarks.

Upon arrival at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, the passengers will be invited to discover the airline’s aircraft maintenance workshops and share a tribute drink at the foot of the aircraft. One can also follow the event on Twitter with #AF747.

As of December 7, 2015, customers can book their tickets on flight AF747 by calling +33 1 56 93 70 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Paris time, Monday through Friday. The fare for the entire cabin is fixed at €220 plus tax.

Air France’s 747: a showcase of modern innovations

Since the early 70s, the Boeing 747 has been a showcase of modern innovations. It revolutionized air travel in an era of mass tourism and global transit. For cargo, the Boeing 747 had pressurized holds, which were ventilated and protected against fire. Four times larger than the previous generation of Boeing, the 707s, the Boeing 747 could carry 122 tons of cargo!

As one of the first airlines to operate this aircraft, Air France made it the flagship of its long-haul fleet. Most of the airline’s destinations – including New York, Montreal, the French West Indies, and Reunion – have been served by the Jumbo.

In the early 70s, Air France also began reinventing its service to better satisfy its customers. The role of chief purser was created to coordinate the service and attention paid to customers, as the new aircraft could carry up to 500 passengers. Inflight cuisine was a major element of the flight experience, with menus designed by great French chefs such as Paul Bocuse, Gaston Lenôtre and Pierre Troisgros, who forged exclusive partnerships with Air France. Finally, the cabin interior was designed by Pierre Gautier-Delaye, who paid particular attention to the comfort of the seat cushions and seatbacks.

Today, the duties behind the Air France flight experience are being handed over to the 65 Boeing 777, equipped with the airline’s new long-haul cabins: designer suites in the La Première cabin, a cocoon in the sky in the Business cabin, and new redesigned seats in Premium Economy and Economy for optimal travel comfort.

Air France La Saga: the benchmark historical website

To celebrate this event and this chapter of Air France’s history, the airline is unveiling its new-look benchmark historical website: http://airfrancelasaga.com

To give everyone a chance to explore Air France’s rich heritage, the airline’s website has had a complete makeover. With vintage videos and photos, Air France is reliving its history, with particular attention to its professionals, fleet, network, and the attention it has always paid to its customers.

Top Copyright Photo: Manuel Negrerie/AirlinersGallery.com.

Air France aircraft slide show:

Airline Airline Aircraft Endangered Species List:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Air France introduced the Boeing 747-128 on June 3, 1970 on the Paris – New York route. Boeing 747-128 F-BPVD (msn 19752) taxies to the gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

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AirBridgeCargo takes delivery of two Boeing 747-8 Freighters

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Boeing delivered two 747-8 Freighters to AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of Volga-Dnepr Group, and one of the leading international scheduled air cargo carriers.

The airplanes are the first to be delivered as part a memorandum of understanding, signed between Boeing and Volga-Dnepr Group at the Paris Air Show in June 2015. The deal calls for more 747-8 Freighters to continue to help ABC provide some of the best cargo carrying service in the world. The agreement also adds the Antonov An-124-100 aircraft to the long-term logistics support for Boeing and its partners.

The planes will be deployed on the expanding network under winter schedule 2015/2016, between Asia and the United States. With these two deliveries, ABC’s fleet now consists of eight 747-8 Freighters, five 747-400 Extended Range Freighters, and two 747-400 Freighters.

The 747-8 Freighter provides cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large freighter airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance. It offers 16 percent more revenue cargo volume than the 747-400, while keeping its iconic nose door.

AirBridgeCargo aircraft slide show:

Air France to release a new round of cuts after failing to reach an agreement with its pilots

Air France (Paris) plans to announce a new round of cuts after failing to reach a new agreement with its pilots according to the Wall Street Journal. The airline was seeking to find cost savings of $190 million annually for the next three years but the pilots refused to fly more hours for the same pay.

Read the full report:

Copyright Photo: Manuel Negrerie/AirlinersGallery.com. Air France is due to operate the last Boeing 747-400 revenue flight on January 11, 2016, ending a long historic run with the 747. However if the carrier follows through on further deeper cuts the type could be retired sooner. Boeing 747-428 F-GITF (msn 25602) departs from the Paris (CDG) hub.

Air France aircraft slide show:

Aeroflot will not proceed with the acquisition of Transaero, will end operations on December 15

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) will not proceed with its acquisition of 75 percent of the stock of rival and struggling Transaero Airlines (Moscow) according to Reuters. Transaero’s shareholders failed to meet the deadline for an acquisition plan.

Read the full report:

Meanwhile the Russian government has given its approval for Transaero to file for bankruptcy according to rt.com.

Read the full report:

The airline has acknowledged on social media that it is “rehabilitating its activities” and would have more details later today.

According to Bloomberg the airline’s creditors have not yet agreed on a restructuring plan. The government has banned the airline from selling any further tickets due to its large debt.

Aeroflot will reportedly stopped buying fuel for Transaero aircraft which affectively grounds the airline.

Read the full report:

Update: On October 2, 2015 Transaero Airlines issued this statement:

Upon the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation on external management and sanation of Transaero Airlines, the carrier interacts with the partners to ensure the carriage of the passengers holding the tickets of the airline.

The airline has suspended ticket sales.

The transportation of passengers-holders of the airline’s tickets on domestic and international routes will be provided until December 15, 2015.

Passengers-holders of tickets for flights after 00.00 of December 15, 2015, will be able to get refund of the full ticket price.

In summary, Transaero Airlines will cease operations at midnight on December 15, 2015.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Antalya, Turkey is a favorite destination for the carrier and its uses Boeing 747-400s to bring large loads of Russian tourists to the popular beach resort. Flights are now being delayed from leaving Antalya (AYT). Boeing 747-446 EI-XLG (msn 30111) taxies at AYT.

Transaero Airlines aircraft slide show:

Cargolux celebrates 45 years of flying with a “You name it, we fly it” logo jet on newly-delivered Boeing 747-8R7F LX-VCM

Cargolux Airlines International (Luxembourg) on September 28 took delivery of brand new Boeing 747-8R7F LX-VCM (msn 61169). The new delivery was flown to Luxembourg (above) and is in service between Luxembourg and Los Angeles via Prestwick.

The new Jumbo freighter is painted in a whimsical “You name it, we fly it” special livery created by Belgian cartoonist Philippe Cruyt. The logo jet is helping Cargolux celebrate 45 years of flying. The logo jet displays some of the odd things the airline has flown in its history.

The airline issued this statement and photos yesterday:

Cargolux Airlines, Europe’s largest all-cargo airline, celebrates its 45th anniversary with a special aircraft livery, created by Belgian cartoonist Philippe Cruyt, that was applied to its 13th 747-8 freighter delivered. The aircraft, LX-VCM, named ‘City of Redange-sur-Attert’, was handed over at Boeing’s Seattle plant on September 28 and arrived in Luxembourg on September 29 with a full load of cargo.

As an undisputed leader in air cargo, Cargolux offers an extensive product range, covering everything from every-day cargo to shipments that require detailed attention, special treatment and expert handling.

Backed by 45 years of experience, the highly specialized Cargolux teams can cater to the most demanding requirements customers may have.

This ability is aptly portrayed in the anniversary livery on LX‑VCM that depicts in a humorous way the many facets of air freight shipments, routinely handled by Cargolux every day.

The decal on Cargolux’s new freighter is the biggest decal that Boeing ever applied to an aircraft, it consists of 460 individual parts.

Phillippe Cruyt was born in Brussels, Belgium, in 1962. He has already illustrated a range of successful educational books on air freight and environmental topics, published by Cargolux in the early 2000s, as well as advertising and safety campaigns, calendars and posters for the airline.

In addition, he has illustrated a range of books as well as published his cartoons at various exhibitions throughout Europe.

Currently, Mr. Cruyt divides his professional time and energy between cartoon illustrations for children’s and educational books or designing communication messages with a touch of humor. When he is not drawing, Mr. Cruyt plays clarinet and tenor sax in his jazz group, The Creole Shakers Trio.

History

Over the last 45 years, Cargolux has grown to become Europe’s largest all-cargo airline with 828,658 ton of cargo flown in 2014 and a fleet of 25 747 freighters.

On March 4, 1970, Luxair, Loftleiðir, Salén and some private interests founded Cargolux and started operations from the newly established home base at Luxembourg airport with a handful of Canadair CL-44 freighters. The young carrier’s first flight on 10 March 1970 was routed Luxembourg – Stockholm – New York and carried a cargo of strawberries and iceberg lettuce.

The airline was created to operate all-cargo ad hoc and sub-charter flights and the first years of operation proved that there was a need for the type of service that Cargolux was offering to its customers.

The CL‑44s soon gave way to bigger DC-8 freighters (above) and, in later years, Cargolux introduced the wide-body Boeing 747 freighter into its fleet, amidst much skepticism in Luxembourg and within the industry. However, the success of the operation eventually proved critics wrong. In later years, Cargolux became the first operator and launch customer of the 747-400F and the 747-8F. With more than 85 offices in over 50 countries, Cargolux today flies to over 70 destinations worldwide and employs over 1,700 people.

Selected Milestones

1970: Cargolux Airlines International is founded by Luxair, Loftleiðir Icelandic, the Salén Shipping Group and private Luxembourg interests.

1974: The maintenance division of Loftleiðir Icelandic is integrated into Cargolux, whose staff increased from 80 to 180 over night.

1978: The final CL-44 is phased out. Cargolux now operates an all-jet fleet.

1979: Boeing delivers Cargolux’s first Boeing 747-200F, the second one arrives a year later.

1983: Cargolux’s CHAMP (Cargo Handling And Management Planning) computer system is introduced.

1984: The last DC-8 freighter is sold, while a third 747-200F is added to the fleet in 1986.

1988: Cargolux ranks among the 15 largest cargo carriers in the world, measured in freight tonne kilometers flown.

1990: Cargolux celebrates its 20th anniversary with an order for three new Boeing 747-400 freighters.

1993: With the delivery of the first two Boeing 747-400 freighters, Cargolux becomes the first airline in the world to operate this state-of-the-art aircraft.

1995: Cargolux celebrates its 25th anniversary. The fleet of modern 747-400 freighters is steadily expanded over the coming years; the 16th and last unit is handed over in 2008.

2005: Cargolux and Boeing announce the development of a new, advanced version of the 747 freighter, later to become the 747-8 series. Cargolux is a launch customer for this new 747 type with an initial order for 10 aircraft. The company later orders five more 747-8Fs.

2009: The Cargolux Maintenance Division moves into its new maintenance hangar that offers modern facilities and space for two 747/A380-sized aircraft. Cargolux enters into a strategic partnership in Italy to create Cargolux Italia for intercontinental all-cargo services from Milan’s Malpensa airport.

2011: Qatar Airways takes a 35% equity interest in Cargolux, but decided in November 2012 to sell its stake. The State of Luxembourg acquires these shares on an interim basis. Some six years after signing the initial order, Cargolux is taking delivery of its first two Boeing 747‑8 freighters on 19 and 21 September.

2014: Cargolux achieves a number of crucial goals, including the conclusion of a commercial cooperation agreement with HNCA, who acquire 35% of the Cargolux shares and the successful introduction of services to and from Cargolux’s new hub in China, Zhengzhou.

2015: Cargolux celebrates its 45th anniversary. The airline operates the largest fleet in its history and routinely records one of the highest daily aircraft utilization rates in the industry. Cargolux now operates seven weekly frequencies between Luxembourg and Zhengzhou and introduces its first dedicated transpacific service between Zhengzhou and Chicago.

The Cargolux Spirit

With the acceptance of 747-8F LX-VCM, Cargolux operates one of the youngest and most efficient freighter fleets in the industry.

“I’m proud to see this aircraft with a very special paint scheme join out fleet,” says Dirk Reich, Cargolux President & CEO. “The 747-8 freighter perfectly suits our worldwide network and its nose-loading and cargo-carrying abilities help us to maintain our leading position in the airfreight industry. Philippe Cruyt’s exceptional livery is a fitting addition to our 13th 747-8F and underlines not only the expertise and experience that Cargolux has gained in handling a wide variety of normal and special freight, but also celebrates the long and colorful history of our company. This aircraft is an ambassador for the passion and the spirit of Cargolux.”

All photos by Cargolux (except below).

Cargolux aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. LX-VCM arrives at Seattle/Tacoma to take a full load of cargo to Luxembourg.

Boeing to build 747 fuselage panels at Macon, Georgia facility

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) has announced that 747 fuselage panels will be built at its Macon, Georgia facility beginning in 2018.

Boeing will take over the work from Triumph Aerostructures – Vought Aircraft Division, a wholly owned subsidiary of Triumph Group, Inc., with the Macon site providing assembled fuselage panels to Boeing’s 747 final assembly line in Everett, Washington. Boeing and Triumph Aerostructures have worked together to ensure a smooth transition for the 747 supply chain.

Boeing and Triumph Aerostructures have worked together for many months to ensure a smooth transition for the 747 supply chain. As part of this detailed process, the Boeing team selected the Boeing Defense, Space & Security Macon facility for 747 fuselage panel work.

Defense work currently performed at the Macon site includes replacement center wing sections for the A-10 Thunderbolt II, as well as sub-assemblies for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Fuselage panels for the C-17 Globemaster transport airplane were also produced at the site until earlier this year.

Current defense work at the facility is scheduled to be complete in mid-2016, at which time Boeing will transition the site for Commercial Airplanes work. Facility staffing will be temporarily reduced during the transition. The site will ramp up to full production on 747 fuselage panels by mid-2018, at which point it will employ up to 200 people.

Macon will become the twelfth manufacturing site for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Fabrication organization, which has operations in three countries.

Boeing will invest approximately $80 million in employee training, tooling and building modifications over the next three years.

The fuselage panel assembly transfer to the Macon site is the first of several new work packages for the 747 currently supplied by Triumph Aerostructures that Boeing will announce in the coming months.

Other 747 structures work now done by Triumph Aerostructures, including the empennage, floor beams and flight surfaces, is currently being competitively bid to selected suppliers. Boeing expects to have sourcing decisions for all the work completed this year.

At Macon, Boeing will equip the site with new tooling and equipment, which will occupy the entirety of the 220,000 square foot facility. A new advanced manufacturing production system will reduce the time to produce fuselage panels while also increasing quality and enhancing employee safety.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. The 2015 version of Boeing’s support of the hometown NFL Seattle Seahawks. Boeing 747-83QF N841BA (msn 60119) lands back at Paine Field in the 12th Man livery.

Boeing 747 Gallery and Slide Show:

Delta retires the first-built Northwest Boeing 747-400, will go to the Delta Flight Museum

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) yesterday (September 9) retired its pictured Boeing 747-451 N661US (msn 23719), the first Boeing 747-400 built for Northwest Airlines-NWA (Minneapolis/St. Paul). Ship 6301 was retired as flight DL 836 from Honolulu to Atlanta according to Delta. Delta issued this story and photo of the historic last flight:

Ship 6301 will move to the Delta Flight Museum, where it will become the latest aircraft exhibit.

On September 9 Delta retired the first Boeing 747-400 aircraft ever delivered to a commercial airline, after its final flight from Honolulu to Atlanta.

Delta Ship 6301 made its first flight with Northwest Airlines in December 1989, and has logged more than 61 million miles, enough to make 250 trips from the Earth to the moon. Northwest later merged with Delta.

Known as the “Queen of the Skies,” the 747 is one of the most popular and recognizable aircraft in the world today. When the first 747 made its first commercial flight 45 years ago, critics thought the aircraft would soon become obsolete as designers believed that supersonic aircraft would be taking over the skies. However, the four-engine jumbo jet revolutionized the industry with its exceptional long-haul flight capability and sheer size, nearly three times larger than the largest jet flying at the time.

The 747 ushered in a new era of international travel with luxuries and, at one time, features such as spiral staircases to the upper deck and stand-alone piano bars.

The improved 747-400 featured a new glass cockpit, tail fuel tanks, advanced engines and a new interior.

747-400 model is called a “high-tech” jumbo to distinguish its advanced features from its predecessor, the “classic jumbo” of the -100 to -300 series. 747-400s have been flown from the U.S. to numerous long-haul destinations including Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Honolulu, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, and Manila during the past 26 years.

As Delta continues to modernize its fleet and improve its Pacific network, the airline plans to retire the remaining 12 747s in its fleet by 2017, replacing them with smaller, more fuel-efficient aircraft that will enable the airline to operate a wider variety of routes, particularly in Asian markets.

The final flight of ship 6301 was flight DL 836. The full flight took off from Honolulu on time (see the video below) while the entire Delta team saw off the beloved aircraft.

Above Photo: Delta. The cabin crew of the last revenue flight of N661US.

Following its final flight, Ship 6301 was welcomed home to Atlanta early on September 9.

Delta Chief 747 pilot Steve Hanlon said the 747-400 was affectionately known as “The Whale” among pilots. “Even as large as the Whale was, it was surprisingly maneuverable and fast, typically cruising at .86 the speed of sound with close to 400 people onboard.”

Following its retirement, Ship 6301 is scheduled to take a final journey in early 2016 to the Delta Flight Museum, where it will become the latest aircraft exhibit.

Interesting the Jumbo, while with Northwest Airlines, was involved in an in-flight event. Flight NW 85 was a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. According to Wikipedia, the flight experienced a rudder hardover event on October 9, 2002 when the flight was close to Anchorage, Alaska. The flight diverted to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. No passengers or crew were injured.

N661US was delivered to Northwest Airlines as the launch customer of this type on December 8, 1989. Boeing originally showcased the new model as N401PW from April 29, 1988 until it was handed over to Northwest.

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. N661US taxies at Amsterdam in Delta’s colors.

Delta aircraft slide show (current livery):

Northwest aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. N661US arrives at Tokyo (Narita) in Northwest colors.