LeoDF From Mexico, joined Aug 1999, 359 posts, RR: 6 Posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 4066 times:
Hello!
It was common in the 1970's, 80's and early 90's to see some airlines with 747's that we will surely never see again flying. It's really a shame for if you look at pictures of such airlines, you can find yourself with 2 thoughts:
1) They looked weird. The C/S of the airline looks weird on a 747
2) Why did such airline had 747 and now it has nothing compared to it in size?
To mention some: American Airlines, America West, Delta Airlines and Continental. They used to have 747-100's, 200's and even SP's. Of course American had -100's and SP's, Continental -100's and -200's, Delta -100's for a short period of time and America West also -100's for a very short period.
Can you imagine these airlines now-a-days with 747-400's? I think the only one I can imagine is Continental, which I think is the one that had for more time the 747.
But those aren't all.
Aer Lingus -100's
Lan Chile -200's
Avianca -200's
Varig -300's and -400's
Viasa -200's
Tap -200's
And of course some others that I can't remember at the time. So, these airlines used it but maybe today it is forgotten.
Aer Lingus is now an all Airbus customer as well as TAP.
Lan Chile went for the A340 and of course the 747-400 would have been to big.
I have no idea why Avianca had 747's. 767 is the biggest airplane today in its fleet. Same happens with Varig that could not maintain their 777's.
Viasa is history.
But, I still think those were the golden days of aviation, long gone now!
Alitalia744 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 4657 posts, RR: 45 Reply 1, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3942 times:
Alitalia had -100's and 200's. In my opinion, the AZ 742's were the finest looking birds in the sky. Shame they went way of the desert.
TWA had 747's for almost 30 years before replacing them with 763's on Euro routes...
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54 Reply 2, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3916 times:
American, America West, and Continental as well...
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
Jeffrey1970 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 1335 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3868 times:
ILoveORD From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 220 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3745 times:
Right on Leo, truly the golden days; long gone by now...I'm just as saddened about it as you: less airlines/less variety of airplanes
Can't believe Condor operated 74s, a far cry from the 757s they have flying transatlantic now to the US!?! I miss those SAS, Olympic, and Swissair 74s especially, because I remember seeing them at ORD when I was little, flying for perhaps my second or third time, on an Austrian A310 in 92 and on a Swissair 743--that's another bird I miss--Austrian doesn't even fly to ORD anymore and the Swissair 743s are long gone. Oh well, I'm gonna stop now, I'm rambling and reminiscing now...
Flyingchoirboy From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 281 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3719 times:
United Airlines is disposing its 747s fast! Its a shame, they are some of the prettiest in the air....
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Soooo Sad
Flyingchoirboy: He sings, he flies, and sometimes he does both at the same time.
Flyingchoirboy From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 281 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3691 times:
Flybynight From Norway, joined Jul 2003, 992 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3690 times:
Flyingchoirboy - I believe UA is starting use more 744's. Attractive lease prices has the Jumbo back in higher frequency. In fact, the 744 is replacing some 777 services.
AA777MIA From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 686 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3592 times:
Dstc47 From Ireland, joined Sep 1999, 1350 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3436 times:
"Aer Lingus is now an all Airbus customer"
Not really true.
It is true that their 747's were replaced by A330's many moons ago.
It is true that their intent is to buy more Airbuses for intra european serVices but EI currently operate B737's and B Ae 146's.
Jetdeltamsy From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 2984 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3386 times:
i loved it when edwin edwards (corrupt louisiana governor) would charter an air france 747 or two for gambling junkets to monte carlo. i know AF is still flying 400's but two 200's parked was quite a sight for a local boy at new orleans.
Worked for too many airlines to list. Banktupcy after bankruptcy after bankruptcy.
Cospn From Northern Mariana Islands, joined Oct 2001, 1473 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3372 times:
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4685 posts, RR: 47 Reply 15, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3365 times:
Not to forget...
Sabena - operated two B747-100's, a few leased -200's and finally three -300's with the -300's replacing the older versions. They were withdrawn from service in 1999 or 2000.
MEA - Middle East Airlines bought a few (3?) -200B's during the glory days of the 1970's. Unfortunately, soon afterwards the decade-long civil war in Lebanon started and the 747's were leased out to other operators. After a brief period of operation in their own colors during the 1990's, MEA retired them a few years ago.
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
Dragon-wings From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 3920 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3316 times:
Myk From Canada, joined Jul 1999, 455 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3303 times:
AH was only for high peek summer period. It was often a leasing from Avianca, CP or even Aer Lingus. They still use the 747 from Air Atlanta in the Summer season
Dragon-wings From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 3920 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3291 times:
AH was only for high peek summer period. It was often a leasing from Avianca, CP or even Aer Lingus. They still use the 747 from Air Atlanta in the Summer season
AV8AJET From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1266 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3265 times:
AV8AJET From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1266 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3254 times:
AV8AJET From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1266 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3248 times:
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9611 posts, RR: 10 Reply 24, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3145 times:
The main reason why so many airlines once flew 747s that don´t do so anymore is the fact that in the arly 70s there was no real alternative if you needed something bigger than the 707 or DC-8 and wanted to be among the top set of airlines. The DC-10 joining the market less than 2 years later was only second choice from the start.
Many airlines (National, Eastern, Delta to name just a few) were hard hit by the oil crisis of the early 70s that tripled (?) fuel prices. For many airlines the 747 was too big from the start. Sabena turned their two 741s into Combis, other leased them out like Aer Lingus.
Then there´s a bunch of airlines that tried to "jump the queue" upwards by introducing 747s (America West for example).
And the ones that needed big jets for just some boom times.
Or National carriers that suffered from local economic crisis and so on. Like Avianca. Like MEA. Like Varig.
25 Zizou: Also Air Lanka now SriLankan used to operate the B747-200 on flights from Colombo to London,Frankfurt,Dubai,Singapore and probably others too.
26 LeoDF: Na: True. Few options back then!! But that gave us a glimpse of 747's on airlines we might never see again!! Sad indeed! Well, thank you everyone for
27 FlagshipAZ: Don't forget FedEx. True, their 747s were carry-overs from Flying Tigers, but FedEx did painted them them in their own colors even tho it was for just
28 Na: FYI Fedex only had one 747F painted in its violet livery, N631FE. The converted freighters inherited where sold off quickly after the merger, while mo
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