Where Are The World’s 174 Remaining Boeing 747s Located Today

(GLOBAL) The number “174 only remaining” Boeing 747s made waves among aviation followers this summer, but industry data shows that figure most likely refers to the Boeing 747‑400 subset rather than the full Global Fleet. As of early 2025, the Global Fleet of all Boeing 747 variants in active service stands at 264 aircraft, with 35 parked. The 747’s center of gravity has shifted decisively to freight: cargo airlines now dominate daily operations, while a small, shrinking passenger core continues to fly—led overwhelmingly by Lufthansa from its Frankfurt base.

The final new 747 rolled off the line in January 2023, closing the order book and turning today’s fleet story into one of carefully managed longevity, steady retirements, and targeted upgrades where economics still make sense.

Two ways to answer “Where are the remaining 747s?”

• If the focus is the classic, best‑selling passenger era jet, the 747‑400, those “174 only remaining” airframes sit mostly with freight carriers, with a handful still flying passengers.
• If the lens widens to every variant (747‑100, ‑200, ‑300, ‑400, and ‑8), the 747 remains a meaningful workhorse across long‑haul cargo networks.

In either case, the arc is clear: passenger flying continues to fade, and freight keeps the type relevant.

The difference between headlines often comes down to classification: some sources count only active passenger 747‑400s, while others include every variant and parked airframes. Check the exact category being cited before drawing broad conclusions.

Global fleet composition (early 2025)

• Total active (all variants): 264
• Parked: 35
• Variants included: 747‑100, ‑200, ‑300, ‑400, ‑8

Cargo airlines hold the largest share of this total; passenger aircraft make up a small slice concentrated geographically in Germany, South Korea, and China, with a few outliers elsewhere. Different databases treat parked, stored, or maintenance‑out aircraft differently, so totals can vary by source. Analysis by VisaVerge.com highlights that definitions of “active” and “parked” affect headline figures.

Passenger side — who’s left and where they fly

Lufthansa is at the heart of today’s passenger 747 story.

• Lufthansa: 27 total 747s based in Frankfurt
  • 19 747‑8I (passenger)
  • 8 747‑400
  • Accounts for 65–67% of all global 747 passenger flights (2025)
  • Plans to keep the 747‑8I fleet for at least another decade; retire remaining 747‑400s by 2028 as 777‑9 deliveries arrive

Other passenger operators and routes:

• Korean Air: Seoul Incheon–Los Angeles is the most frequent 747 passenger route worldwide.
• Air China: Uses 747s on high‑volume domestic routes (Beijing–Shenzhen, Beijing–Shanghai) and occasional international services.
• Max Air (Nigeria) and Rossiya (Russia): Small passenger presences with irregular schedules.

Numbers snapshot (2025):

• Passenger‑configured 747s worldwide: 50
• Actively flying (passenger role): 39

Note: any single retirement carries outsized impact on passenger totals due to the small base.

Cargo side — where the 747 still thrives

The 747 continues to anchor heavy, long‑haul cargo due to payload, range, and nose‑loading capability. Major operators have invested in maintenance and avionics upgrades to delay expensive retirements.

Key cargo operator counts (2025):

• Atlas Air: 51 747s (mix of 747‑400F and 747‑8F)
• UPS: 43 747s (mainly 747‑400F and 747‑8F)
• Cargolux: 29 747s (mostly 747‑8F, some 747‑400F)
• Kalitta Air: 22 747‑400s active, with 3 parked
• Other operators: AirBridgeCargo, Silk Way West, National Airlines (smaller fleets)

Cargo strategy highlights:

• Keep aircraft productive on long sectors and peak seasons
• Maintain parts pooling and targeted checks to reduce downtime
• No immediate mass retirement expected; the transition will be gradual and economics‑driven

Passenger route guidance (practical tips)

If you want to fly a 747 in 2025:

1. Search Lufthansa Frankfurt schedules first (best chance for daily departures to North America, India, and select Asian cities).
2. Check Korean Air for Seoul Incheon–Los Angeles.
3. Check Air China for Beijing–Shenzhen and Beijing–Shanghai.
4. For smaller carriers, verify equipment close to departure—schedules and aircraft assignments change frequently.

Tip: Always confirm aircraft type near travel date to avoid equipment swaps to twinjets.

Government, military, and VIP use

Specialized government and military roles keep certain 747s active:

• United States (Air Force):
  • 4 E‑4B “Doomsday Plane” (747‑200B)
  • 2 VC‑25A (747‑200B) serving as “Air Force One” for Presidential transport
• Other governments with 747 VIPs typically field one to three aircraft each: Japan (two 747‑400), Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Brunei, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, South Korea, etc.

These aircraft fly low utilization but high‑importance missions and are likely to remain in service while mission needs and maintenance budgets support them.

Recent developments shaping 2024–2025

• Lufthansa increased 747 operations and now runs roughly two‑thirds of global scheduled passenger 747 flying.
• Korean Air sold five 747‑8I frames to Sierra Nevada Corporation for military conversions (command‑and‑control roles).
• Cargo operators continued investing in fleet upkeep.
• Production closed with the final delivery to Atlas Air in January 2023.

Combined, these point to a slow fade in passenger service and a longer tail in cargo operations.

Three‑tier view of passenger network (2025)

1. Tier 1 — Lufthansa: most reliable flying and highest daily departures from Frankfurt.
2. Tier 2 — Korean Air: a small fleet with flagship routes (Seoul–Los Angeles).
3. Tier 3 — Air China, Max Air, Rossiya: availability varies based on operational needs.

This explains why 747s now appear most at major European and North American hubs (notably Frankfurt), a few core Asian hubs, and select domestic Chinese city pairs.

Cargo map and mission profile

• Freighters operate across major cargo airports both sides of the Pacific, across the Atlantic, and at inland hubs.
• Typical cargo missions: heavy machinery, outsized goods, and high‑value shipments where the 747’s volume and nose‑door loading matter.
• Demand cycles affect utilization, but the 747 remains competitive where payload and range are both required.

Analysts’ outlook (what comes next)

• Passenger 747s: likely to disappear from scheduled service by the end of the decade, with Lufthansa as the probable last major operator.
• Cargo 747s: expected to continue into the 2030s for some fleets, subject to parts and maintenance capacity.
• Military/VIP 747s: will remain in specialized roles for the foreseeable future.
• Pressure drivers: environmental concerns and operating costs favor newer twin‑engine widebodies on the passenger side; cargo operators weigh these against the 747’s payload/range advantages.

Key summary numbers (August 2025 operator snapshot)

• Lufthansa: 27 passenger 747s (19 747‑8I; 8 747‑400)
• Korean Air: reduced mix of 747‑8I and 747‑400 across limited routes
• Air China: several 747‑8I and 747‑400 focused on domestic trunk routes
• Max Air / Rossiya: small passenger 747s, schedules vary
• Atlas Air: 51 747s active
• UPS: 43 747s
• Cargolux: 29 747s
• Kalitta Air: 22 747‑400s active, 3 parked

Regulatory context

For technical background on aircraft certification and continued airworthiness (relevant to longevity and maintenance), readers can consult U.S. Federal Aviation Administration materials at the FAA’s site: https://www.faa.gov/aircraft. This underpins the reality that fleets can continue flying as long as they meet regulatory and maintenance standards and remain economically viable.

Final takeaways

• If you count every variant, the Global Fleet remains active: 264 flying, 35 parked (early 2025).
• If you focus on the 747‑400, the “174 only remaining” framing reflects a shrinking subset that largely lives in freight with a few passenger holdouts.
• Passenger flying is concentrated with Lufthansa (27), with smaller roles for Korean Air and Air China; cargo is led by Atlas Air (51), UPS (43), Cargolux (29), and Kalitta Air (22).
• No new 747s are being produced, but existing airframes are being extended through maintenance strategies and targeted investments.
• The 747’s future: a gentle glide path for freight with a last wave of passenger flying that aviation fans should plan for now if they want to experience it.

For fans: Lufthansa offers the most reliable path to a scheduled 747 seat; otherwise check Korean Air and Air China and verify equipment close to departure. Cargo and government 747s remain vital to logistics and specialized missions even if they’re not publicly bookable.