Boeing 747-400 Passenger Fleet Tracking/Retirements Thread 2019

qf789 · Mon Jan 28, 2019 1:14 pm

Welcome to the Boeing 747-400 Passenger Fleet Tracking and Retirement thread for 2019.

Please continue to add your comments below

Link to last thread

viewtopic.php?p=21046537#p21046537

Also if anyone is interested in doing a summary please email the mods and we will add it here

george77300 · Thu Feb 07, 2019 4:39 pm

Well to start this thread off, BA retired G-BNLK on the 15th January 2019. This leaves them with 34 frames remaining. As for this year, G-BNLN is also due to retire this year (in July) and G-CIVG (in Nov), so BA will still have 32 at the end of this year.

BA currently retirement schedule up to YE 2022:

YE 2018 // 35 remaining - 1 retired: G-BNLP (Dec)
YE 2019 // 32 remaining - 3 retired: G-BNLK (Jan) / G-BNLN (July) / G-CIVG (Nov)
YE 2020 // 27 remaining - 5 retired: G-CIVD (May) / G-CIVH (Jun) / G-CIVJ (Jun) / G-CIVI (Oct) / G-CIVL (Nov)
YE 2021 // 23 remaining - 4 retired: G-CIVK (Jan) / G-CIVM (Jan) / G-CIVN (Feb) / G-CIVF (Jun)
YE 2020 // 21 remaining - 2 retired: G-CIVC (Nov) / G-CIVE (Nov)

Plan was for all of BA's 747-400s to be gone by Feb 2024 but retirements keep getting pushed out so 2026 has been the new rumoured. All subject to change, either way, of course.

qf789 · Sun Feb 17, 2019 10:22 am

Qantas 747-400 VH-OJS is operating its last commercial flight today QF73 SYD-SFO, from there it will be positioned to VCV

The next 747-400 will be VH-OEB, expected to be withdrawn in April

juliuswong · Mon Feb 25, 2019 4:52 am

N322SG Atlas Air Boeing 747-481 is now back in service.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n322sg

qf789 · Sat Mar 30, 2019 12:53 pm

Lion Air has retired their last 747-400 this week

https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/lion-ai ... rnisation/

shaner82 · Sat Mar 30, 2019 2:10 pm

Before they're all gone, I want to fly on the upper deck of a 747. Considering I'm based in Ontario, Canada, what would be my best option for doing so? KLM to AMS? The goal is to keep costs to a minimum because my only goal is the flight, not the destination. So the cheaper, shorter option would be the best

A330 · Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:36 pm

Saudia ( operated by AAI) flies the B744 to SUB, DAC, LHE, KNO, KAN, ALG, ISB, Sometimes KUL.
Maybe worth a trip for the enthousiast...

DABYT · Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:27 am

shaner82 wrote:
Before they're all gone, I want to fly on the upper deck of a 747. Considering I'm based in Ontario, Canada, what would be my best option for doing so? KLM to AMS? The goal is to keep costs to a minimum because my only goal is the flight, not the destination. So the cheaper, shorter option would be the best

LH has a daily 744 service from Toronto to Frankfurt but you would have to buy a business class ticket if you want to be on the upper deck. Or you buy premium eco and upgrade just one of the two flights to make it cheaper.

TheEuphorian · Sun Mar 31, 2019 11:00 am

qf789 wrote:
Lion Air has retired their last 747-400 this week

https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/lion-ai ... rnisation/

With that, TG is now the sole 744 operator in S.E.Asia.

Cointrin330 · Sun Mar 31, 2019 11:54 am

Does anyone know when Qantas will retire VH-OEF, the oneworld logo 747-400ER?

AlexA340B777 · Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:49 pm

TheEuphorian wrote:
qf789 wrote:
Lion Air has retired their last 747-400 this week

https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/lion-ai ... rnisation/

With that, TG is now the sole 744 operator in S.E.Asia.

TG has reactivated stored 744 HS-TGP recently, nice.

trex8 · Sun Mar 31, 2019 1:10 pm

Anyone seen anything on CIs plans for their pax 744s?

HeeseokKoo · Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:48 pm

Asiana has 2 744pax, HL7418 (Sep 1994) and HL7428 (Jun 1999)
HL7418 is to retire in Sep 2019. Korean law bans 25yo passenger fleet and that's why one Asiana 767 was retired earlier this year. No info for the other one.

Korean Air has 2 744pax, HL7402 (Dec 1998) and HL7461 (Jun 1997)
They won't be retired for a stable operation of a 744 leased to the government. KE keeps loading 744 schedule only for the next few months but no retirement is planned for now.

moa999 · Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:39 am

Cointrin330 wrote:
Does anyone know when Qantas will retire VH-OEF, the oneworld logo 747-400ER?

The six ERs are scheduled to be retired between late 2019 and end 2020.

frigatebird · Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:05 am

moa999 wrote:
Cointrin330 wrote:
Does anyone know when Qantas will retire VH-OEF, the oneworld logo 747-400ER?
The six ERs are scheduled to be retired between late 2019 and end 2020.

I must admit it hurts a bit to see the only passenger 747-400ER's being retired so soon. Hopefully some other airline will pick them up for pax operations. Chances are slim, I know. But it really would be sad to see them stripped for parts in the desert.

It was probably already mentioned in last year's thread, but this is the current retirement schedule for KLM's 744s:
PH-BFU to be retired next week April 8;
PH BFG & PH-BFI December 2019;
PH-BFH & PH-BFS March 2020;
PH-BFT & PH-BFL October 2020;
PH-BFV & PH-BFW April 2021;
PH-BFN & PH-BFY May 2021.
(source: Dutch Aviation forum Scramble).

qf789 · Mon Apr 29, 2019 7:49 am

Qantas was due to withdraw 744 VH-OEB from the fleet this week, originally last flight was scheduled for tomorrow to operate QF73 to SFO however that has been delayed due to a JQ 788 being out of service for the past month and is scheduled to operate several SYD-HNL flights for JQ over the next week

JannEejit · Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:09 am

Anyone able to provide a list of airlines who will completely cease 744 ops in 2019 ?

jetwet1 · Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:20 am

shaner82 wrote:
Before they're all gone, I want to fly on the upper deck of a 747. Considering I'm based in Ontario, Canada, what would be my best option for doing so? KLM to AMS? The goal is to keep costs to a minimum because my only goal is the flight, not the destination. So the cheaper, shorter option would be the best

Get down to MCO and take a VS MCO-LGK flight.

Cardude2 · Mon May 20, 2019 2:52 am

shaner82 wrote:
Before they're all gone, I want to fly on the upper deck of a 747. Considering I'm based in Ontario, Canada, what would be my best option for doing so? KLM to AMS? The goal is to keep costs to a minimum because my only goal is the flight, not the destination. So the cheaper, shorter option would be the best

All the options I can think of involve you first going to Montreal

Use this to help you

https://www.knaviation.net/guide-to-fly ... 19#corsair

Suggestions on the cheap are Corsair airlines and Wamos air

Iemand91 · Fri May 24, 2019 4:35 pm

The single Kuwait Airways 747-400M (9K-ADE) is currently enroute to Enschede for scrap by AELS: https://www.flightradar24.com/KAC8170/20a0d14c

With the retirement of this aircraft; KLM is "officially" the last airline to fly commercial flights with 747-combi aircraft, however this aircraft may have been designated as a 747-400M; apparently it never operated as a combi-aircraft...

Iemand91 · Fri May 24, 2019 5:11 pm

I can't edit the post above anymore *sigh*, but it should read "commercial passenger flights" because some other 747-400M are still flying as full freighters and 2 as VIP aircraft.

ojjunior · Fri May 24, 2019 6:55 pm

Iemand91 wrote:
The single Kuwait Airways 747-400M (9K-ADE) is currently enroute to Enschede for scrap by AELS: https://www.flightradar24.com/KAC8170/20a0d14c

With the retirement of this aircraft; KLM is "officially" the last airline to fly commercial flights with 747-combi aircraft, however this aircraft may have been designated as a 747-400M; apparently it never operated as a combi-aircraft...

Simple yet beautiful livery.
Fits perfectly on 744.
bye bye big boy

AA737-823 · Fri May 24, 2019 8:02 pm

I've noticed that VH-OEJ (QF 747-438ER) hasn't flown in FIVE WEEKS!
Went up to Hong Kong on April 17.
Anyone know what's up with that?
In HKG, it could definitely be maintenance, but that's a long time for a simple A check, and I can't imagine they'd be doing bigger checks on birds scheduled to retire in the next 12-18 months...

psimpson · Fri May 24, 2019 8:31 pm

AA737-823 wrote:
I've noticed that VH-OEJ (QF 747-438ER) hasn't flown in FIVE WEEKS!
Went up to Hong Kong on April 17.
Anyone know what's up with that?
In HKG, it could definitely be maintenance, but that's a long time for a simple A check, and I can't imagine they'd be doing bigger checks on birds scheduled to retire in the next 12-18 months...

According to the below link, it is in Hong Kong for maintenance.

http://theqantassource.com/?s=vh-oej

Cardude2 · Fri May 31, 2019 2:50 am

Iemand91 wrote:
I can't edit the post above anymore *sigh*, but it should read "commercial passenger flights" because some other 747-400M are still flying as full freighters and 2 as VIP aircraft.

Here is the video of it landing to be scrapped https://youtu.be/S-HrHtglQLY

Cardude2 · Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:45 am

Here is a Google Doc that I made displaying all the airlines, registrations and where each airline flys there 747's. you guys can even send me comments when something changes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-gH ... sp=sharing

Cardude2 · Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:50 am

JannEejit wrote:
Anyone able to provide a list of airlines who will completely cease 744 ops in 2019 ?

yes here you go, you can even send me comments

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-gH ... sp=sharing

danair380 · Sun Jun 02, 2019 9:56 am

AA737-823 wrote:
I've noticed that VH-OEJ (QF 747-438ER) hasn't flown in FIVE WEEKS!
Went up to Hong Kong on April 17.
Anyone know what's up with that?
In HKG, it could definitely be maintenance, but that's a long time for a simple A check, and I can't imagine they'd be doing bigger checks on birds scheduled to retire in the next 12-18 months...

QANTAS regularly send their 747's for maintenance in HK, another note but after tonight the adopted child of the QANTAS 747 fleet is retiring tonight as VH-OEB is operating QF73 to SFO before positioning to tulepo (?) for scraping

moa999 · Sun Jun 02, 2019 11:12 am

OEB at 26 years young having started life with Asiana.

Just having maintenance assume OEJ may be the last to retire.

AA737-823 · Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:43 am

danair380 wrote:
QANTAS regularly send their 747's for maintenance in HK, another note but after tonight the adopted child of the QANTAS 747 fleet is retiring tonight as VH-OEB is operating QF73 to SFO before positioning to tulepo (?) for scraping

Of course, lots of MX done in HKG.
But I always get nervous when a short-timer doesn't fly for a month!
Meanwhile, OEJ took a three-hour test hop HKG-HKG, Monday June 3, as QF6029.

Too bad about OEB, though. Asiana is still flying two PAX birds (7418 & 7428)... yet the ex-Asiana bird at QF is now gone.

n471wn · Wed Jun 05, 2019 4:42 pm

Does anyone know why OEB flew to LAX rather than to Tupelo?

United_fan · Wed Jun 05, 2019 5:32 pm

n471wn wrote:
Does anyone know why OEB flew to LAX rather than to Tupelo?

From HD Melbourne Aviation's youtube channel:

Last weekend saw the retirement of Qantas' former oldest Boeing 747 in their fleet, VH-OEB. This aircraft is their only 747-400 powered by General Electric's CF6s and is an ex Asiana aircraft. Its final commercial flight was QF73 to San Francisco on June the 2nd and the aircraft now is parked at LAX to be stripped of its titles and flown off to Victorville for its final resting place.

n471wn · Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:37 pm

United_fan wrote:
n471wn wrote:
Does anyone know why OEB flew to LAX rather than to Tupelo?

From HD Melbourne Aviation's youtube channel:

Last weekend saw the retirement of Qantas' former oldest Boeing 747 in their fleet, VH-OEB. This aircraft is their only 747-400 powered by General Electric's CF6s and is an ex Asiana aircraft. Its final commercial flight was QF73 to San Francisco on June the 2nd and the aircraft now is parked at LAX to be stripped of its titles and flown off to Victorville for its final resting place.

Thank you so much for this update and the VCV destination—it was previously reported it was going to Tupelo

qf789 · Thu Jun 06, 2019 4:53 pm

n471wn wrote:
United_fan wrote:
n471wn wrote:
Does anyone know why OEB flew to LAX rather than to Tupelo?

From HD Melbourne Aviation's youtube channel:

Last weekend saw the retirement of Qantas' former oldest Boeing 747 in their fleet, VH-OEB. This aircraft is their only 747-400 powered by General Electric's CF6s and is an ex Asiana aircraft. Its final commercial flight was QF73 to San Francisco on June the 2nd and the aircraft now is parked at LAX to be stripped of its titles and flown off to Victorville for its final resting place.

Thank you so much for this update and the VCV destination—it was previously reported it was going to Tupelo

VH-OEB departed LAX just over 10 minutes ago and now heading for TUP as QF6021

n471wn · Thu Jun 06, 2019 5:36 pm

So it Tupelo after all

ryanflyer · Thu Jun 06, 2019 6:16 pm

Indeed OEB is heading to Tupelo where it will join 3 other ex-United 747s and an ex-TAP A330 coming soon. Not sure if anyone has plans to go visit, but UAM Aero (the company that is doing the recycling work) is holding an aviation day event June 15 and they are offering up close tours. I'll be there and will have to post some photos of the old queens for those who can't go.

n471wn · Thu Jun 06, 2019 8:58 pm

[quote="ryanflyer"]Indeed OEB is heading to Tupelo where it will join 3 other ex-United 747s and an ex-TAP A330 coming soon. Not sure if anyone has plans to go visit, but UAM Aero (the company that is doing the recycling work) is holding an aviation day event June 15 and they are offering up close tours. I'll be there and will have to post some photos of the old queens for those who cannot be there

She has landed at TUP and they took her to 45k on her final flight!

KLM747er · Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:52 am

G-BNLN of British Airways also made her last commercial flight. Today as scheduled she is going to Sint Athan to be scrapped

.

Ronaldo747 · Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:16 am

KLM747er wrote:
G-BNLN of British Airways also made her last commercial flight. Today as scheduled she is going to Sint Athan to be scrapped .

IIRC, my ride of my first flight to JFK. Sad.

na · Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:06 am

KLM747er wrote:
G-BNLN of British Airways also made her last commercial flight. Today as scheduled she is going to Sint Athan to be scrapped .

With ca. 120.000 flight hours one of the most flown aircraft in BA history, if not the record-holder.

leleko747 · Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:41 pm

Not sure if mentioned here before:

- Atlas Air recently picked up ex-UA 747-400 N119UA. It was flown to HKG for a D-Check and will be registered as N480MC at Atlas.

- OneCaribbean, an operator based at St. Vincent and Grenadines, have put their hands on an ex-China Airlines 747-400, registered N508BB. The all white Jumbo was ferried from VCV to the Caribbean. Rumors say it will fly from SVG to the Middle East (honestly, I don't see this lasting long). Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbcmW-xbQRo

- According to Skyliner, one of the ex-JASDF 747-400 will be ferried to TLV for freighter conversion. This will be the first freighter conversion of a 747-400 in years, right? Not counting the Asiana B747-400M which was converted recently (that was already a Combi frame). Any more info about this? I fear Skyliner might have posted a wrong info.

Ronaldo747 · Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:14 pm

leleko747 wrote:
- According to Skyliner, one of the ex-JASDF 747-400 will be ferried to TLV for freighter conversion.

I thought both JASDF 744 are slated to go to museums?

leleko747 · Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:56 pm

Ronaldo747 wrote:

I thought both JASDF 744 are slated to go to museums?

My thoughts too. Actually, their interior will. The airframes are supposed to be scrapped. But then, Skyliner posted about one being converted to cargo at TLV, so I don't know which information is true.

cruiseshipcrew · Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:34 pm

leleko747 wrote:
- According to Skyliner, one of the ex-JASDF 747-400 will be ferried to TLV for freighter conversion. This will be the first freighter conversion of a 747-400 in years, right? Not counting the Asiana B747-400M which was converted recently (that was already a Combi frame). Any more info about this? I fear Skyliner might have posted a wrong info.

I can't see this happening. There are several 747BCF sitting in Mojave and VCV that could still be in use if needed. I doubt we will see another 747 conversion.

CX747 · Thu Jul 04, 2019 12:30 pm

george77300 wrote:
Well to start this thread off, BA retired G-BNLK on the 15th January 2019. This leaves them with 34 frames remaining. As for this year, G-BNLN is also due to retire this year (in July) and G-CIVG (in Nov), so BA will still have 32 at the end of this year.

BA currently retirement schedule up to YE 2022:

YE 2018 // 35 remaining - 1 retired: G-BNLP (Dec)
YE 2019 // 32 remaining - 3 retired: G-BNLK (Jan) / G-BNLN (July) / G-CIVG (Nov)
YE 2020 // 27 remaining - 5 retired: G-CIVD (May) / G-CIVH (Jun) / G-CIVJ (Jun) / G-CIVI (Oct) / G-CIVL (Nov)
YE 2021 // 23 remaining - 4 retired: G-CIVK (Jan) / G-CIVM (Jan) / G-CIVN (Feb) / G-CIVF (Jun)
YE 2020 // 21 remaining - 2 retired: G-CIVC (Nov) / G-CIVE (Nov)

Plan was for all of BA's 747-400s to be gone by Feb 2024 but retirements keep getting pushed out so 2026 has been the new rumoured. All subject to change, either way, of course.

Interesting to now see 2026 as the supposed sunset for the BA 747 fleet. Another half decade plus of service from the Queen!!!!!

trex8 · Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:33 pm

cruiseshipcrew wrote:
leleko747 wrote:
- According to Skyliner, one of the ex-JASDF 747-400 will be ferried to TLV for freighter conversion. This will be the first freighter conversion of a 747-400 in years, right? Not counting the Asiana B747-400M which was converted recently (that was already a Combi frame). Any more info about this? I fear Skyliner might have posted a wrong info.

I can't see this happening. There are several 747BCF sitting in Mojave and VCV that could still be in use if needed. I doubt we will see another 747 conversion.

Are CIs 3 parked 744Fs for sale or they are stripping them slowly for parts for their active fleet?

NG263 · Fri Jul 05, 2019 11:58 am

cruiseshipcrew wrote:
leleko747 wrote:
- According to Skyliner, one of the ex-JASDF 747-400 will be ferried to TLV for freighter conversion. This will be the first freighter conversion of a 747-400 in years, right? Not counting the Asiana B747-400M which was converted recently (that was already a Combi frame). Any more info about this? I fear Skyliner might have posted a wrong info.

I can't see this happening. There are several 747BCF sitting in Mojave and VCV that could still be in use if needed. I doubt we will see another 747 conversion.

Less than one might think. A few were recently picked up. According to planespotters.net, there should be only one ex KE 744BCF in MZJ left, as well as 1 OZ in VCV and the 3 CI 744F's in VCV.

880dc8707 · Fri Jul 05, 2019 4:39 pm

Missed BA and LH both to PHL

CX747 · Fri Jul 05, 2019 9:24 pm

NG263 wrote:
cruiseshipcrew wrote:
leleko747 wrote:
- According to Skyliner, one of the ex-JASDF 747-400 will be ferried to TLV for freighter conversion. This will be the first freighter conversion of a 747-400 in years, right? Not counting the Asiana B747-400M which was converted recently (that was already a Combi frame). Any more info about this? I fear Skyliner might have posted a wrong info.

I can't see this happening. There are several 747BCF sitting in Mojave and VCV that could still be in use if needed. I doubt we will see another 747 conversion.

Less than one might think. A few were recently picked up. According to planespotters.net, there should be only one ex KE 744BCF in MZJ left, as well as 1 OZ in VCV and the 3 CI 744F's in VCV.

Second hand market for factory or conversion 747 freighters is getting pretty tight. Atlas and Cargolux have been able to pull off some interesting used 747F pickups. As that ability shrinks, the probability of additional 747-8F ordered increases.

leleko747 · Sat Jul 06, 2019 1:14 pm

There are many 747-400s being parked. United had some young (manufactured around 1999) Jumbos seeing the scrapman at Tupelo.
With pure cargo birds being picken up by Atlas, Kalitta and Cargolux, why can't airlines convert these younger 747s?

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