For a nearly 50-year design that’s been declared dead over and over, fans of the Boeing 747 have been given more proof that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. Korean Air has just taken on its first 747-8 Intercontinental, a stretched version with new, more economical engines. The airline has 10 more on order.
While there are fewer orders these days (although far more than for the A380, which hasn’t had a new order in two years), there’s a continuing demand, especially for the freight version. Korean Air, by the way, is the only airline so far to fly both the passenger and freight versions of the “dash 8.” In some views, it’s the demand for the freighters that’s keeping the assembly line alive.
Korean’s 747s, 18 feet longer than the previous model, is configured with 368 seats, including first-class “suites” with sliding doors and partitions for privacy, There are updated entertainment systems for all, but the good seats also get individual 24″ monitors (and presumably enough legroom that the screen won’t be in your face.
