Boeing 747?

Question

Ok So I have seen many airlines discontinueing the 747 from there fleet airlines like Air Canda,American Airlines,America West (US Airways) and More. Why is that? Its such a nice plane. Please Anwser! Thank You!

American Airlines did have a 747 a picture of it can be found on the link

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0082840/M/

Answer 1

Simply, because it is highly ineffecient, Plus Nobody flies any US airline for international travel, unless you live in the US. Apparently, it is because US airlines are almost the worst in the world, so there is still low traffic. Plus there are more effecient planes like the 777 and A330. Those of which have 2 engines and cost less to fly to longer distances than the 747. Even though the 747 has many more seats than either the 777 or A330, the 747 has a higher seat per mile cost, than the 777 or A330. The reason being is that it costs alot more money to run a 747 domestically, or on some international routes, because a 747 is "large" and when there are more seats, you need a longer turnaround and it is really expensive to keep a plane on the ground. And the reason why United and NWA are the only US airlines to run the 747, is because they can actually make a profit and survive break-even in the market. The reason why everyother US airline removed the 747 from their fleet was because of how much it cost, and US airline passenger traffic on 747's AWA (America West) long cancelled their Nagoya route probably like back in the 80's, long before I was born, was because people had better international airlines to fly to Asia, I mean I love AWA not that I hate them, and on AWA flights to Nagoya, at the time AWA used the 747 for their Nagoya route, because it was their only plane that can because of the long range capabilities, was really empty, with only about 20-50 people flying to Nagoya and back. When you fill a 747, then you actually make a profit, but when there was extremely low traffic density, its a waste of money because you have a few thousand pounds of seats, burning extra fuel wasting money, which is why US airlines phased it out with 777's,767's , A330's, etc.etc. Obviously, you fill an A330 with fewer people than a 747. Plus almost all wide-bodied twinjets,nowadays can get range as good as or better than a 747. The 772 (777-200LR) can get 9,420 miles, and the A340-500 gets 9,400. They seat about just as much as a 747 can.The 747 was simply too large for the market, to survive in US airline fleets

Answer 2

Few airlines need the high capacity long range latest versions of the 747. The original 747 introduced around 1970 had engines each with thrust of 45,800 lbs. The latest version has engines with 68,000. What can you do with this much more engine thrust. Carry more weight/ people and cargo or more fuel and thus increase the range. Both are possible and the 747 of today is more of an international or long range aircraft than ever before. The 777 with only two engines has replaced the 747 on many routes. Boeing calls it their mini-jumbo. The GE90 engines on the latest 777-300 holds the world record and have a thrust rating 115,300 lbs.
.

Answer 3

The 747 is basically 1960s technology, and there are numerous designs today that are more efficient. At the same time, there have been many improvements, and you can still order a brand new B747.

And there's never been a ruggeder, more spirited ship than the B747. A joy to fly, and a joy to ride. Thank you Boeing.

But in today's market there are more economical, more efficient designs for most routes. Flying non-stop from Seattle to HongKong? There's still nothing better than the 747. Flying from HongKong to Bangkok? Try a 767 or a 777.

And so on...

Answer 4

Fuel cost. When a barrel of oil reaches $80 per barrel, it really sums up to something when 4 engines on the 747 costs almost double than a smaller counterpart, i.e. 767/777, or even more than double, i.e. AirBus 330/340.

Also, airlines are running much leaner than it used to be. Therefore, an empty seat on a 747 costs the company much more than an empty seat flown on a 737.

Answer 5

The advent of more efficient Aircraft has led to the 747 not being economical for many of it's former routes. 777's the improved 737's and the 757's as well as some of Airbus's aircraft have made the 747 obsolete in SOME markets.

We still build and sell them. Now they are mainly used for Really LONG Range flights.

Answer 6

A lot of them are very old and aren't worth the cost of a major overhaul.
About a year or two ago ,South African scrapped out their B747's. Some were 35 years old.
They opted for the 777, which can fly NY, South Africa, nonstop.

i recently was at Liberty International, Newark, and saw only one B747, an airfreighter.

Answer 7

The airline market has changed, Boeing belives that the airline market will change into non-stop flights from city to city, and they only need small to medium sized airplanes. Airbus, belives that they will have small planes bring people to hub airports, and then fly to other hub airports on their A-380 and then take a commuter flight to their destination. Boeing's idea seems to be working better.

Answer 8

I love jumbo jets but I think a few airlines stopped using it because of its fuel consumption.

Answer 9

The design is from the 60's, and they use more fuel than other aircraft currently in production.

Answer 10

American Airlines never had a 747

Ooops