Air New Zealand and Delta Air Lines announce withdrawal of Boeing 747-400 aircraft from fleets

In order to make the long-term operational costs more efficient, the airlines have considered the modernization of the fleets. Thus, aircraft like Boeing 747-400 (Boeing's largest passenger plane) have begun to be removed from the system.

On 28 July, shortly after it came into the possession of the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Air New Zealand retired one of the 2 aircraft Boeing 747-400, and the second and last will be removed from the fleet on 10 September. Both will arrive at Victorville, California Aircraft Cemetery. Gradually, they will be replaced by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, more fuel-efficient aircraft. ANZ continues the plan started a few years ago, that of eliminating the legendary fuel-hungry planes from its fleet.

In turn, the air operator Delta Air Lines announced its intention to withdraw 25% from the Boeing 747-400 aircraft fleet by the end of this year. Currently, 16 Jumbo Jet aircraft fly for Delta, being configured in 3 classes: 48 seats in Business Class, 42 seats in Economy Plus and 286 seats in Economy. Of these, 3 will be discontinued at the end of September, and the 4 will be removed in December.

Over time, many airlines have given up the jumbo jet. All Nippon Airway withdrew the last B 747-400 in March 2014. In 2011, Japan Air Lines gave up the last Jumbo Jet. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have also dropped B747, and Air India and Eva Air will follow the example of the airlines mentioned above.

And in Europe there are airlines with Boeing 747-400 in the fleet. British Airways operates 55 B 747-400 aircraft and does not yet show a desire to give them up, despite the high operating costs, and Air France - KLM operates together a fleet of 29 Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Lufthansa has 19 747-400s, but also 19 Boeing 747-8i ordered, a more cost-effective model, but without success.

(Photo cover: http://www.planespotters.net/)