The final delivery of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet has taken place, with the Seattle-based manufacturer handing the aircraft, a freighter and the 1,574th to be produced since 1967, over to Atlas Air.
"This monumental day is a testament to the generations of Boeing employees who brought to life the airplane that 'shrank the world,' and revolutionised travel and air cargo as the first wide-body," said Stan Deal, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "It is fitting to deliver this final 747-8 Freighter to the largest operator of the 747, Atlas Air, where the 'Queen' will continue to inspire and empower innovation in air cargo," Deal added.
Data from Cirium, an aviation industry number-cruncher, showed Atlas as having taken 111 747s, the world's first twin-aisle aircraft, since the maiden delivery to customer Pan-am in 1970.
Other carriers to have taken delivery of over 100 747s include Japan Airlines, British Airways and Air Atlantic Icelanda, according to Cirium. While 341 of the deliveries were cargo variants of the giant airplane, 1,200 were passenger jets, and a further 23 for carrying presidents and heads of state, including ,for a time, as Air Force One in the US.
"We are honoured to continue our long history of flying this iconic aircraft for our customers around the world," said John Dietrich, president and chief executive officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. "Atlas Air was founded over 30 years ago with a single 747-200 converted freighter, and since then, we have spanned the globe operating nearly every fleet type of the 747, including the Dreamlifter, Boeing's 747 Large Cargo Freighter, for the transport of 787 Dreamliner parts."
"As the first twin-aisle airplane and "jumbo jet," the "Queen of the Skies" enabled airlines to connect people across vast distances and provide non-stop trans-oceanic flights," Boeing said.