The Boeing 747, the first true jumbo jet, has been in service since 1969, so many people are surprised that they are not only still in service, but still in production!
Lufthansa, one of the 747’s biggest boosters took delivery of the 1500th one last year, an extended model called the 747-8, and is using it now on its route between Frankfurt and Newark Liberty, while running the only other plane in its size class, the A380, on a run from Frankfurt to JFK. The big planes are part of Lufthansa’s strategy to become a bigger player in the trans-Atlantic market. The new model offers 8 first-class seats, 60 business, 32 “premium economy” and 244 economy seats.
Below, Lufthansa’s A380 taking off, B747-8 on the ground.
