The Boeing 747 first took the skies in 1969 and transformed long-haul travel with its size, range, and passenger capacity. It opened new possibilities for international travel, but as airlines shifted to more efficient twin-engine aircraft under improved engine reliability and ETOPS standards, the quad jet gradually disappeared from passenger fleets. That said, the aircraft has not vanished from the skies entirely.

According to ch-aviation data, more than 350 remain in service across cargo, passenger, and VIP fleets. The majority of them are operated by cargo carriers. Only a handful of carriers continue scheduled passenger operations with the type. As of 2025, Lufthansa, Rossiya, Korean Air, and Air China are the remaining airlines offering passenger flights on the 747.

Where The Boeing 747 Will Fly In The US This Winter

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Indeed, the type has long been tied to American aviation history. It first entered service with Pan Am, and later became a flagship for major carriers like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. While all the US airlines have retired the 747, Lufthansa, Air China, and Korean Air continue operating it on transpacific and transatlantic services. According to scheduled data from Cirium, the airlines have collectively scheduled more than 3,700 flights to the United States this year on the 747.

For this winter, between December and February, just 13 US routes will see the aircraft. Lufthansa, which flies 19 747-8s and eight 747-400s, operates the most routes. From Frankfurt, it deploys the type to Newark, Washington Dulles, Houston, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco. Washington Dulles and Miami will see a daily 747-8 throughout December, January, and February. San Francisco and Los Angeles will have daily service through January and will shift to six weekly flights in February.

Only Chicago will see a mix of 747-8 and 747-400 operations. Meanwhile, Korean Air and Air China each operate two US routes with the aircraft. Air China is flying the 747-8 on its Beijing services to Washington Dulles and New York JFK. Korean Air uses the 747-8 on flights from Seoul to Honolulu and Los Angeles.

Several US 747 Routes Have Changed Since Last Winter

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Compared to last winter, several of this season’s 747 deployments look different. Lufthansa did not use the 747 on its Frankfurt–New York JFK, Houston, or Chicago routes last year. The airline operated the JFK route with the Airbus A340-600 and A340-300, but with additional frequencies this winter, the switch to the higher-capacity 747, which aligns with the airline’s schedule changes.

Houston also saw exclusively A330-300 service last winter. The German carrier will continue operating the A330-300 through January and then introduce the 747 for the rest of the season. Chicago was previously served with the A340-300 and A340-600, so the 747 effectively replaces those aircraft this winter.

Besides that, there are differences among the Asian operators too. Air China flew the 747 to JFK last winter. Korean Air, which now operates the 747 to Los Angeles and Honolulu, used the aircraft on three US routes last year, including Atlanta and New York JFK.

How Long Will The Boeing 747 Remain Flying?

Known for its humped fuselage and lower per-seat costs that opened up long-haul travel to the masses, the Boeing 747 will go down in aviation history as one of the most influential commercial aircraft of all time. While production of the type has now drawn to a close, hundreds of examples of the legendary ‘jumbo jet’ remain in service today, begging the question as to how long it will continue flying.

Conceptualizing the 747

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Delays And High Demand Are Keeping The 747 In Passenger Service

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As noted, most airlines have phased out the Boeing 747, but the carriers still operating it rely on the type for practical reasons. Lufthansa, for instance, is managing the same challenge many long-haul operators are facing: strong demand with significant delivery delays.

The airline is awaiting 26 Boeing 787s, 21 Boeing 777Xs, and 28 Airbus A350s, yet all three programs continue to experience supply-chain-related issues. With new aircraft arriving later than planned, Lufthansa depends heavily on its existing widebody fleet to maintain capacity.

Indeed, the 747 plays an important role in filling that gap, and the 747-8 is expected to remain in service well into the 2030s. Korean Air has taken a similar approach. While it has been modernizing its fleet, it has retained the 747s on select long-haul routes as it manages its own delivery timelines and network requirements.