According to people in the know, Boeing looks like its discontinuing its iconic 747 jumbo jet.
In just two years time, the last of the twin-aisle jumbos will leave its Seattle-based factory.
I guess well just have to take their word for it, for now.
We will continue to make the right decisions to keep the production line healthy and meet customer needs.
40% off TNW Conference!
As Bloomberg also points out, Airbus recently manufactured the last fuselage components for its A380 jumbo.
Along with Boeings rig, this marks a bit of a turning point for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
It seems most airlines now favor slightly smaller twin-engined planes for long-haul travel.
In reality, the superjumbos were never a great commercial success.
Smaller planes are cheaper to run, burn less fuel, and are easier to fill to capacity.
But lets take a moment to remember the Boeing 747 and appreciate how it changedair travelfor the world.
Remembering the 747
The 747 was the first true jumbo jet.
Its also the plane of choice for the US Presidents Air Force One.
The plane was unique in its design, seating pilots in an iconic bulge above the bulkhead.
Its also known for being a double-decker with a spiral staircase.
The 747 was going to change everything.
He even spearheaded a more affordable ticket option called tourist class, wed commonly call economy class now.
Trippe ordered so many 747s for Pan Am that it set the company on a path to ruin.
Launching the 747 also came at great financial difficulty for Boeing and nearly sent it to bankruptcy, too.
The industry recovered and through the 1980s airlines (and Pan Am) kept buying 747s.
For every cheap flight anyone has ever been on, we probably have the 747 to thank.
It will live on, in history.
Story byMatthew Beedham
Matthew is the editor of SHIFT.
He likes electric cars, and other things with wheels, wings, or hulls.
