IATA 748ICAO B748

Boeing 747-8

Boeing

TravelerPulse profile

The world's largest and most advanced 747 variant.

First flight

2010

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

410–467 (typical 3-class: ~410)

Range

14,815 km

Engines

4x General Electric GEnx-2B67 turbofans

Status

In service

The Boeing 747-8 is the latest and largest development of the iconic 747 family, featuring a stretched fuselage, new composite materials, and advanced GEnx-2B turbofan engines. It was developed in two variants: the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger version and the 747-8F freighter, the latter launching first and achieving greater commercial success. Compared to its predecessor the 747-400, the 747-8 offers a longer fuselage, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced noise footprint. The passenger variant seats approximately 410 passengers in a typical three-class configuration, while the freighter offers the largest payload capacity of any production cargo aircraft. Despite modest passenger airline orders, the freighter variant found a strong market with cargo carriers. Boeing ended 747-8 production in 2022, marking the conclusion of over five decades of 747 manufacturing. The aircraft remains in service with operators worldwide.

Notable operators

Lufthansa and Korean Air were the primary passenger operators, while Cargolux, UPS Airlines, and Atlas Air operate the freighter variant.

Notable facts

›The 747-8 is the longest commercial aircraft ever built, stretching 76.3 metres.
›The 747-8F freighter can carry a maximum payload of approximately 134 tonnes.
›Boeing delivered the final 747-8 freighter to Atlas Air in February 2023, ending 747 production.
›The aircraft uses the same GEnx engine family as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, adapted for four-engine use.
›The 747-8 features a new raked wingtip design and advanced aerodynamics derived from 787 research.

Read more on Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The Boeing 747-8, as -8i intercontinental for passengers and -8F freighter, is the last member of the Boeing 747 family, a series of four-engine long-range large wide-body airliners built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes until 2023. It is the largest model of the 747 that was introduced in the 1960s, and is Boeing's largest aircraft overall. Following the introduction of the 747-400ER in 2000, Boeing explored larger 747 versions as potential competitors to the upcoming double-deck Airbus A380 which had its maiden flight in 2005. The stretched 747, initially called the 747 Advanced, was officially launched as the 747-8 on November 14, 2005, with the designation reflecting its technological ties to the 787 Dreamliner which first flew in 2009. At the time, Boeing forecast a market of 300 -8 aircraft, but only about half as many were built.

Read full article on Wikipedia