More than two dozen airlines had already committed to purchasing the 747 was shown to the public for the first time. In 1970, the 747 made its first commercial flight, carrying more than 300 Pan Am passengers from New York to London.
It immediately became a public sensation. The four-engine aircraft was much larger than any other and could accommodate hundreds of people in rows of up to 10 seats. The upper deck, accessible via a spiral staircase, housed a luxurious lounge. American Airlines had a piano bar installed in the main cabin.
Orders started pouring in, bringing much-needed revenue to Boeing. Owning a 747 has become a status symbol for airlines. Some companies bought the plane even though it didn’t quite meet their needs.
The number one reason airlines bought the plane was that the 747 helped them cut costs. Because the plane could carry so many more passengers in a single trip, airlines could sell tickets cheaper, making air travel affordable for the masses.
Boeing produced several versions of the plane in the 1970s and 1980s for different purposes and to improve how much it could carry and how far it could fly. In 1989, the company presented a major upgrade, the 747-400, which became the best-selling model of the aircraft. Boeing sold more 747s in the 1990s than in any other decade.
But as popular as the airplane had become, the world began to evolve.
Smaller, more efficient twin-engine aircraft could now fly longer distances. Because of their smaller size, airlines were able to offer direct international connections between smaller cities. like St. Louis and Frankfurt.
In the mid-’90s, Boeing also introduced the 777, which was about the same size as the 747. With only two engines, it was more advanced and efficient. A decade later, Boeing’s main competitor Airbus debuted the A380, which can carry more passengers than the 747. But Airbus struggled to sell the plane and announced the end of production in 2019.
