China Airlines also says goodbye to the 747
The year 2020 has claimed many victims in the realm of the skies; in fact, there are many aircraft that have retired, just [...]
2020 has reaped many victims in the realm of skies, there are in fact many planes that have gone into retirement, just think of the giant A380, but many airlines have also decided to say goodbye to theiconic Boeing 747.
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The latest in chronological order is. China Airlines which decided to celebrate the retirement of its last B747-400 with an event at the airport in Taipei Taoyuan where executives, staff members and President Suchien Hsieh were present.
The main reason for this painful farewell is surely the pandemic that is plaguing the tourism market for more than a year now. In fact, airlines have been forced to park fleets for quite some time, and currently there is not the same request of flights as they did two years ago, reasoning that carriers, including China Airlines, are turning to aircraft more small and efficient.
Farewell party and the last flight of China Airlines' 747
A celebration that recorded the sold-out of the tickets made available in just 5 minutes, so many were eager to attend the final farewell to the aircraft delivered by Boeing in 2005.
Passengers enjoyed a private tour with a senior crew instructor, then all 350 of them boarded the plane for the final flight.
Departing from Taoyuan airport, it went as far as Mt. Fuji where he turned around to fly back to the starting point. The flight lasted five and a half hours.
Participants enjoyed on board a meal Japanese traditional and also received a commemorative "gift package," inside which were a limited-edition 747 model, a face mask, a keychain designed for the occasion, a canvas bag, a commemorative flight ticket, and a China Airlines-branded courtesy kit
It was China Airlines itself that christened the first 747 now 30 years ago, carrying into the skies about 100 million passengers into long-haul flights. Now the Taiwanese company has about 20 747s, but all of them destined to be aircraft cargo and not passengers.
What other companies have said goodbye to the 747?
There are several companies that have decided to retire the 747 in favor of more efficient and smaller aircraft. For example, Lufthansa plans to decommission even 115 planes, including A380s and Boeing 747s.
Of the same opinion is Thai Airways, which, due to the retirement of 747s and A380s, will also lose its FIRST CLASS. British Airways has decided to give up 747s and make us some keychain limited edition while another is become a museum. Delta, on the other hand, made the wacky decision to decommission one of its 747s and sell it in pieces on eBay!
A retirement party similar to that of China Airways made it Virgin Atlantic which served an onboard menu with champagne and organized a tour for participants of theevent.
In short, 747 production will cease for good in 2022, and airlines are already dismantling those they have in house. Hopefully, the upcoming reopenings can get us back on the road soon by also allowing us to take one last ride in one of these iconic Boeings still in service before their total farewell.
