HiJazzey From Saudi Arabia, joined Sep 2005, 788 posts, RR: 1 Posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2897 times:
Hi there,
I've been thinking..
There are still a few major airlines who have 747 classics in their inventories, but I imagine that most will be keen to replace them with more modern and fuel efficient planes.
My question is, is there a future for these planes? Is there demand for the types (cargo perhaps?), or are they likely to be scrapped?
UPS is still flying 747-100s which are extremely old, but I think there are not so many chances we will see the classics so much longer. Not only the fuel is getting a problem, I think the noise is a problem, as well. For example, UPS may no longer use the old 747s in CGN during the nighttime.
747LUVR From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 391 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 2801 times:
I think its about time we get a new airline going here...How about 'Airliner.net Airlines'?.... (ANA might give us a hard time though) haha.
FLALEFTY From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 390 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2749 times:
Quoting TheSonntag (Reply 2): Not only the fuel is getting a problem, I think the noise is a problem, as well.
Yep! Noise and fuel consumption issues have UPS in the process of moving to the A380F and 744F & SF.
And let's not forget that the 747-100/200/300s have all been around a long time. The airframes are probably facing corrosion and stress cracking issues. The engines (mostly first-generation high-bypass, P&Ws and GEs) are also probably getting expensive to maintain. The 3-crew, analog cockpit has its issues, too.
CCA From Hong Kong, joined Oct 2002, 707 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2666 times:
Basically the way I see it is, if the 707 is still flying around you will still see the classic "Queen of the skies" flying around for a long time , not with the major carriers, but for some lower cost carries as pax A/C and the rest as freighters, as long as they make more money than they cost to run you can expect to see them. Obviously leasing plays a part, if you can operate a -400F for less than a classic that will become the deciding factor, but for airlines which own their classics the only cost is basically maintenance.
StudentFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2004, 688 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2478 times:
Quoting CCA (Reply 5): if the 707 is still flying around you will still see the classic "Queen of the skies" flying around for a long time , not with the major carriers
Well, not to be picky on a specific group here, but aren't 707s still flying around Africa as one of the backbone aircraft, along with other ageing-aircraft such as DC8s and 9s, 727s and very Classic 737s? If that's the case then we'll see the 747 Classics around for some time, given that safety is not a major factor there.. should be though ><
NA From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9603 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2426 times:
A well kept 20 year old 747-200 can be aquired for a fraction of a 10 year 777, and it offers more seats. That alone makes sense for some airlines already to operate the 742, though its not many airlines left this applies to. Of cause everyone would rather have the latest shiny, efficient type, but not everyone can afford the price. Look at all the 732s and MD-80s still flying around. MD-80s need a hell lot more fuel than an A320. And a non-hush-kitted 732 is as noisy, perhaps even noisier than a 742.
Carpethead From Japan, joined Aug 2004, 2769 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2381 times:
NCA has the last 747 classic to come off the line in Everett, delivered in 1991, which is newer than some 744s.
JL is the last major airline that operates a lot of 747 classics. Though they are slowly phasing them out in favor of 777s. Most other major carriers throughout the world only have a handful or have gotten rid of them altogether.
Unless noise regulations get really stringent in the 2010s, the 747 classic freighters will enjoy a very long life.
How about Saudia's classic 747s? (I flew 3 times with them)
Saudia has some plans for them?
Hi Emrecan,
That's partly the reason I was asking
Well.. SV will be announcing their wide body fleet plans this summer. It is expected that the classics will be retired, and an order for new jets made. So in all likelyhood they are on their way out.
Apparently, as rumours has it, they already found a buyer for some of them, and that they will be disposed of around September. They will dry lease some 744s until the new planes arrive. But these are just rumours.
Zvezda From Lithuania, joined Aug 2004, 10511 posts, RR: 66 Reply 12, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2148 times:
Market price for a rope-start B747 is $0.5M to $2M. Since B747-400s are already being taken out of passenger service and converted to freighters (which will only increase as the B747-8 enters service), there are better options than putting rope-start B747s into service. Those who are already operating them may continue to do so for some time, but there is little demand to acquire them.
Skyguy From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 461 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2116 times:
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 12): Market price for a rope-start B747 is $0.5M to $2M.
Any idea what the going rate for a 16 year old 744 or 20 year old 742 is? I would imagine it would be at least $12-16 million.
"Those who talk, do not know, and those who know, do not talk."
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