Welcome to the Boeing 747-400 Passenger Fleet Tracking / Retirements Thread 2021. Please continue your discussion and to post your updates here.

Link to previous thread:

Boeing 747-400 Passenger Fleet Tracking/Retirements Thread - 2020

China Airlines to operate its last 744 passenger service on February 6th with a special 5:40 farewell sightseeing flight from Taipei to Japan offering views of Mount Fuji.



https://www.china-airlines.com/tw/zh/di ... ewellparty

Any news on Air India 744 retirement?

Gosh, at this point, who is even left?!
I can only think of:

Air China - Three 744s, including the ex presidential plane, are still flying domestic hops mostly between Beijing, Sanya, Madrid(?!?), and Shenzhen.
Air India - VT-EVA is still flying between Kolkata and Delhi, but the other three birds haven't flown in months.
Asiana - HL7428 is still flying, mostly between Changchun and Incheon
Iraqi - YI-ASA nad YI-AQQ fly once every few weeks, it seems
Rossiya - ?
Saudia - TF-AAJ/K/M haven't flown in 9 months, so maybe they don't belong on this list

AA737-823 wrote:

Gosh, at this point, who is even left?!
I can think of:
Air China
Air India
Iraqi
Rossiya?
Saudia?

Asiana still flies their sole pax 744 to Changchun and Nanjing.

hoons90 wrote:

Asiana still flies their sole pax 744 to Changchun and Nanjing.

You beat me! I was updating my post once I'd consulted my teardrop-soaked "Remaining 744" spreadsheet...

Mahan Air's EP-MNB is regularly flying between Tehran and Kehrmann.

Wamos Air's EC-MDS has flown ORY-PTP once in December as a sub for Air Caraïbes.

workhorse wrote:

Mahan Air's EP-MNB is regularly flying between Tehran and Kehrmann.

Interesting!
Last photo of the cabin shows Mahan simply kept the United rainbow-era seat covers... what a flashback!
Unfortunately, for a US citizen, Mahan flights aren't really an option for me.
It's too late to update my post, or I'd add them to that list.

workhorse wrote:

Wamos Air's EC-MDS has flown ORY-PTP once in December as a sub for Air Caraïbes.

This 747 is wanted by the "Bring Our Birds Home" project in New Zealand. I believe she might be retired soon

AA737-823 wrote:

Rossiya - ?

Of 9 Rossiya's 747s one (EI-XLM) has flown in the past month (16th of December). Most of others have last flown in October/November. It does not look like Rossiya has decided to retire them yet.

leleko747 wrote:

workhorse wrote:

Wamos Air's EC-MDS has flown ORY-PTP once in December as a sub for Air Caraïbes.

This 747 is wanted by the "Bring Our Birds Home" project in New Zealand. I believe she might be retired soon

Thanks for the info! Didn't realise it was an ex-NZ bird. And the Lord of the Rings one too! I feel old...

AA737-823 wrote:

Gosh, at this point, who is even left?!
I can only think of:

Air China - Three 744s, including the ex presidential plane, are still flying domestic hops mostly between Beijing, Sanya, Madrid(?!?), and Shenzhen.
Air India - VT-EVA is still flying between Kolkata and Delhi, but the other three birds haven't flown in months.
Asiana - HL7428 is still flying, mostly between Changchun and Incheon
Iraqi - YI-ASA nad YI-AQQ fly once every few weeks, it seems
Rossiya - ?
Saudia - TF-AAJ/K/M haven't flown in 9 months, so maybe they don't belong on this list

Not active, but still 'flyable' awaiting final retirement flights:

1x 74E stored / parked at KCI Overhaul Base - former KL: PH-BFT

2x 74E's stored /parked at AMS hangar area - former KL: PH-BFW - PH-BFV

3x 744's stored / parked at ENS / EHTW - former LH: D-ABTK - D-ABVX - D-ABVY

List i've compiled of current pax 747 operators as far as I know, includes 747-8 as well, please correct if wrong on some as a few I'm not 100% if correct such as Saudia, Max Air, and Kabo Air.

Boeing 747 Pax Operators as of Jan 5th 2021

1. Lufthansa 27 (19 are 747-8) (747-400’s retired by 2025 probably sooner)
2. Korean Air 10 (All 747-8)
3. Air China 10 (7 are 747-8) (One 747-400 operated for Government)
4. Rossiya Airlines 9
5. Atlas Air 6 (PAX Versions) (2 more coming from Virgin Atlantic)
6. Saudia 5 (Leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic?)
7. Air India 4 (to be retired soon) (One 747-400 Operated for Government)
8. China Airlines 3 (to be retired Feb 6th 2021)
9. Iraqi Airways 2 (One operated for Government)
10. Max Air 2 (unsure if correct)
11. Wamos Air 2 (to be retired in 2023)
12. Mahan Air 2 (One is 747-300 and is stored)
13. Kabo Air 1 (unsure if airline is actually in operation)
14. Asiana 1 (to be retired 2024, probably sooner, merging with Korean Air)

Total 84 Pax 747’s in Operation (48 are 747-400’s)

Note 1: Unless specifically stated, aircraft operated are 747-400
Note 2: Government operated aircraft listed are in airline house colors
Note 3: Air Atlanta Icelandic is not listed, as I am not sure if any aircraft are in house colors
Disclaimer: This does not include 747 Cargo Operations

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

3. Air China 10 (7 are 747-8) (One 747-400 operated for Government)

Not anymore. It has been reconfigured into regular CA pax 744 configuration last summer and currently is flying happy punters between PEK, SZX, CAN, SYX and, oddly enough, MAD.

workhorse wrote:

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

3. Air China 10 (7 are 747-8) (One 747-400 operated for Government)

Not anymore. It has been reconfigured into regular CA pax 744 configuration last summer and currently is flying happy punters between PEK, SZX, CAN, SYX and, oddly enough, MAD.

I'll update my list thank you, interesting about MAD

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

6. Saudia 5 (Leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic?)
10. Max Air 2 (unsure if correct)

6: I believe these have been returned to the lessor and are now stored
10. I believe these are (still?) stored in the Arizona desert

but please correct me if I'm wrong

For the av-geeks among us:

N674US, a retired 744 has its various components apparently now being auctioned through eBay

https://www.ebay.com/sch/whaletailsales ... pg=&_from=

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/new ... -ebay.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-747- ... Swz~he7SSg

Apparently this comes from 24223 or N668US.

Are you sure of the reg?.

bennett123 wrote:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-747-400-ex-Delta-Airlines-Single-Window-Display/363162548858?hash=item548e2cba7a:g:cWsAAOSwz~he7SSg

Apparently this comes from 24223 or N668US.

Are you sure of the reg?.

Not sure tbh, probably must be components from multiple ships, it also features fuselage cutouts both from N666US as well as N674US

I bought a nose landing gear door from N666US -- https://www.ebay.com/itm/363155771135

What are you going to do with it?.

Does anyone know of China Airlines
B-18211's and Asiana HL7418's whereabouts? Only two 744s I ever flew on. Haven't been on a.net in a while so forgive me for not looking around other threads.

N626AA wrote:

Does anyone know of China Airlines
B-18211's and Asiana HL7418's whereabouts? Only two 744s I ever flew on. Haven't been on a.net in a while so forgive me for not looking around other threads.

B18211 at TPE
Per flightradar24 last revnue flight Mar 8 from HKG, flew likely test flight July, Oct 7 (19 min) and Dec4 (21 min).
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/b-18211

HL7418 scapped April 2020
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/ ... nes/38pm2r

Hey guys in case you forgot, I have a google doc with a list of passenger airlines operating the 747-400/300. you guys are free to comment a suggestion: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-gH ... yyrlQ/edit

Former Royal Air Maroc CN-RGA (744) spotted taxiing in AMS, heading to Sierra bay / hangar area. Maintenance??

FlyingHonu001 wrote:

Former Royal Air Maroc CN-RGA (744) spotted taxiing in AMS, heading to Sierra bay / hangar area. Maintenance??

Yes: https://www.scramble.nl/community/messa ... 62#p983662

Former KL 747 (reg unknown) sighted at KCI Overhaul Base

https://twitter.com/JetMidwest/status/1 ... 7640378375

http://www.southwalesaviationgroup.co.u ... athan.html

G-CIVC and G-VAST scrapped DGX.

Anyone have an idea where HZ-HM1A the Saudia Govt 747-300 is located?? last photo I can find in the database is from Dec 2019.

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

Anyone have an idea where HZ-HM1A the Saudia Govt 747-300 is located?? last photo I can find in the database is from Dec 2019.

Looks like she's at King Khalid International Airport. Has flown a couple of flights in 2020 but weirdly enough I can't find the flight from Basle where it was in December 2019.

Last flight I can find was on August 6, 2020.

Iemand91 wrote:

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

Anyone have an idea where HZ-HM1A the Saudia Govt 747-300 is located?? last photo I can find in the database is from Dec 2019.

Looks like she's at King Khalid International Airport. Has flown a couple of flights in 2020 but weirdly enough I can't find the flight from Basle where it was in December 2019.

Last flight I can find was on August 6, 2020.

It seems like to be replaced by the 77W , that 743 was one of the last built if not the last.

UAEflyer wrote:

Iemand91 wrote:

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

Anyone have an idea where HZ-HM1A the Saudia Govt 747-300 is located?? last photo I can find in the database is from Dec 2019.

Looks like she's at King Khalid International Airport. Has flown a couple of flights in 2020 but weirdly enough I can't find the flight from Basle where it was in December 2019.

Last flight I can find was on August 6, 2020.

It seems like to be replaced by the 77W , that 743 was one of the last built if not the last.

Ughh, I hope it comes back to the US before it's finished, I had a chance to see it at SFO in 2016 but didn't take it. Now I'm beginning to regret that decision. Thanks for the info

KLM PH-BFW "City of Shanghai" was flown from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv last Monday for freighter conversion. (cargo-in-cabin).
She flew the very last commercial flight of a pax KLM 747 on October 25, from Shanghai to Amsterdam.
PH-BFV "City of Vancouver" is the only KLM pax 747 left at Amsterdam, her final flight (at least for KLM) is planned for next month.

Lufthansa D-ABVR is currently on her way from Tarbes to Frankfurt. She will fly to Mojave this week, so this will likely be her third or second to last flight ever.
https://www.flightradar24.com/DLH9923/269eb371

Iemand91 wrote:

Lufthansa D-ABVR is currently on her way from Tarbes to Frankfurt. She will fly to Mojave this week, so this will likely be her third or second to last flight ever.
https://www.flightradar24.com/DLH9923/269eb371

Now on her last ever flight, going from Los Angeles to Mojave:: https://www.flightradar24.com/DLH9923/26a3edb4

Landing at LAX yesterday afternoon:


Source: https://twitter.com/SpaethFlies/status/ ... 7653556231

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4446797 ... 5410002603

G-CIVD Scrapped CDT 01/2021.

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

UAEflyer wrote:

Iemand91 wrote:

Looks like she's at King Khalid International Airport. Has flown a couple of flights in 2020 but weirdly enough I can't find the flight from Basle where it was in December 2019.

Last flight I can find was on August 6, 2020.

It seems like to be replaced by the 77W , that 743 was one of the last built if not the last.

Ughh, I hope it comes back to the US before it's finished, I had a chance to see it at SFO in 2016 but didn't take it. Now I'm beginning to regret that decision. Thanks for the info

wee if that's true then EW-465TQ Transaviaexport Cargo Airline Boeing 747-329(SF) is the last flying 747-300 in the world! because I think at this point the mahan air 747-300 is not going back into service, nor is Saudis 743.

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/109 ... -747-329sf

Cardude2 wrote:

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

UAEflyer wrote:

It seems like to be replaced by the 77W , that 743 was one of the last built if not the last.

Ughh, I hope it comes back to the US before it's finished, I had a chance to see it at SFO in 2016 but didn't take it. Now I'm beginning to regret that decision. Thanks for the info

wee if that's true then EW-465TQ Transaviaexport Cargo Airline Boeing 747-329(SF) is the last flying 747-300 in the world! because I think at this point the mahan air 747-300 is not going back into service, nor is Saudis 743.

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/109 ... -747-329sf

Planespotters still shows the Boeing 743 of the Saudi Government as active (HZ-HM1A)

Cardude2 wrote:

xjetflyer2001 wrote:

UAEflyer wrote:

It seems like to be replaced by the 77W , that 743 was one of the last built if not the last.

Ughh, I hope it comes back to the US before it's finished, I had a chance to see it at SFO in 2016 but didn't take it. Now I'm beginning to regret that decision. Thanks for the info

wee if that's true then EW-465TQ Transaviaexport Cargo Airline Boeing 747-329(SF) is the last flying 747-300 in the world! because I think at this point the mahan air 747-300 is not going back into service, nor is Saudis 743.

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/109 ... -747-329sf

I wouldn't count the Iranian's out, I never thought that Mahan Air 747-400 would go back into service. I'm not counting on it, but wouldn't be shocked to see it come back in a few years lol

Are the Iranians free to buy 747s in the second hand market or did US prohibit that as part of sanctions?

24 year old Lufthansa D-ABVT is currently flying from Tarbes to Frankfurt.
Will be ferried to MHV for part-out and scrap later: https://www.flightradar24.com/LH9923/26c6e577


D-ABVT Boeing 747-400 Lufthansa @ Eurospot / LDE 2020 by @Eurospot, on Flickr

aristoenigma wrote:

Are the Iranians free to buy 747s in the second hand market or did US prohibit that as part of sanctions?

There are two points (experts, please chime in to correct):
1) Airplanes must be older than 25 years. So if your transaction involves a 747 that's more than 25 years old -- that part is clear.
2) No money transactions with Iran. Meaning that anybody caught paying to or being paid by Iranian entities is subject to a laundry list of punishments.

So, if you figure out a way to get a 25-year old 747 into Iran, and being paid in a way that does not involve any sanctioned party paying you (i.e. no money of Iranian origin), you are good. Which is a conundrum, because you cannot sell stuff to Iran, and then confidently prove that the money that paid for the stuff has no connection whatsoever with any Iranian entity.

Iemand91 wrote:

24 year old Lufthansa D-ABVT is currently flying from Tarbes to Frankfurt.
Will be ferried to MHV for part-out and scrap later: https://www.flightradar24.com/LH9923/26c6e577


D-ABVT Boeing 747-400 Lufthansa @ Eurospot / LDE 2020 by @Eurospot, on Flickr

Now taxiing at LAX for her final ever flight: https://www.flightradar24.com/DLH9923/26cb4dd5

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KembleE ... 2588837528

One of the BA B747 is now tail less, (reported to be G-CIVL). It looks as if KLM PH-BFG will soon follow.

OK, where do we stand today?

Asia:
CA - 2 active, 1 stored
OZ - 1 active
AI - 3 stored , 1 active
Iraqi Airways - 2 active
Mahan Air - 1 stored

Europe:
Rossiya - 9 stored
LH - 8 stored
Wamos - 1 stored

Africa:
Max Air - 1 stored

Note 1: This list does not include aircraft that fly military charters, government missions, football charters etc, only regular flights that a normal human can book.
Note 2: I consider an aircraft "active" if it has flown at least once in the last month.

Anything else?

workhorse wrote:

OK, where do we stand today?

Asia:
CA - 2 active, 1 stored
OZ - 1 active
AI - 3 stored , 1 active
Iraqi Airways - 2 active
Mahan Air - 1 stored

Europe:
Rossiya - 9 stored
LH - 8 stored
Wamos - 1 stored

Africa:
Max Air - 1 stored

Note 1: This list does not include aircraft that fly military charters, government missions, football charters etc, only regular flights that a normal human can book.
Note 2: I consider an aircraft "active" if it has flown at least once in the last month.

Anything else?

KL - 1 stored at AMS hangar area (PH-BFV, last 744 in the fleet awaiting retirement flight)

FlyingHonu001 wrote:

KL - 1 stored at AMS hangar area (PH-BFV, last 744 in the fleet awaiting retirement flight)

Yeah, I have seen this one but didn't include it since it hasn't flown in the past month and KL has officially retired the 744 from service anyway.

Which makes me think, maybe it's a good idea to include the retirement information in my list:

Asia:
CA - 2 active, 1 stored, no communication on the retirement and it looks like they intend to fly them for a while (the ex-presidential aircraft has been refurbished recently)
OZ - 1 active, officially supposed to be retired in 2024 (that may change though as OZ is in the process of being bought by KE)
AI - 3 stored , 1 active, officially supposed to be retired some time this year
Iraqi Airways - 2 active, no communication on the retirement
Mahan Air - 1 stored, may very well fly again when needed

Europe:
Rossiya - 9 stored, no communication on the retirement
LH - 8 stored, no communication on the retirement
Wamos - 1 stored, no communication on the retirement

Africa:
Max Air - 1 stored, no communication on the retirement

Note 1: This list does not include aircraft that are used for military charters, government flying, football charters etc, only regular flights that a normal human can book.
Note 2: I consider an aircraft "active" if it has flown a passenger flight at least once in the last month.

Boeing757100 wrote:

Any news on Air India 744 retirement?

Interesting article on CH-Aviation: https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... -b747-400s

workhorse wrote:

FlyingHonu001 wrote:

KL - 1 stored at AMS hangar area (PH-BFV, last 744 in the fleet awaiting retirement flight)

Europe:
Rossiya - 9 stored, no communication on the retirement

Like I posted in this thread earlier, in mid-2020 Rossiya announced in a quotation to Air Transport Observation that it plans to retire its 747-400s in 2024.

The original quotation was on the newsfeed. However, it was reported by Russian business media as well. (link in Russian).

workhorse wrote:

OK, where do we stand today?

Mahan Air - 1 stored

EP-MNB is currently active!