Symmetre

KL flies a 747-400 combi on its YYZ-AMS routes. I had one a couple of weeks ago.

smallmj

Disrespectful young pup, if I ever find you I'll give you a good beating with my cane.

I flew an AC widebody from YYZ-Tampa in 83. But I was only 10 at the time, so I don't remember what it was. Too long ago to be a 747-400 though.

LondonElite

Then you must be in your early twenties? Those aircraft were only taken out of service in 2004. Anyone who is 10 years or older would have the capacity to remember those 'birds'.

tcook052

2003 according to AC's online historical fleet data.

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...cal-fleet.html

LondonElite

Mea culpa.

JustSomeGuy1978

Does anyone think that there will be 747's in AC's fleet again in the future? I realize the line as an airframe type is getting long in the tooth... However... The 747-8 seats 410 per wikipedia while AC's 777's seat between 300 (200-LR) to 450 (300-ER HD). So a 747-8 could fill the role of the 773's

After Burner

Then too bad for you - you never experienced what flying on a 747 used to be like IN ECONOMY:

smallmj

Not likely. I'm pretty sure that the 777 is a more much more efficient bird. The 777X is a few years out, but it will be more efficient still. We'll see if AC wants any.

Dorian

Their own data is incorrect.

These were flying through the summer of 2004, possibly even until Oct.





Toronto Star

Oct. 31, 2004.
Last of the 747s

Thirty-four years after Air Canada unveiled her in Montreal, the storied “Queen of the Skies” is surrendering her crown

RICK WESTHEAD
BUSINESS REPORTER

With an 80-metre fuselage, room for 500 passengers and a tail that soared six stories, it didn't take long for the Boeing 747 jumbo jet to become known as "Queen of the Skies."

Thirty-four years after a crowd of 66,000 attended the unveiling in Montreal of Air Canada's first 747, the carrier has decided it's time for the queen to surrender her crown.

Following today's Air Canada flight from Toronto to Montreal, the airline will retire its final 747, marking the closure of a noteworthy chapter in the company's 67-year history.

"It was a big, gentle giant," said Donald Quistberg, 71, one of the first Air Canada pilots to fly the 747. "It was controllable in turbulence, comfortable and was just an incredible airplane."

Air Canada received its first three 747-100s in the spring of 1971.

Dennis Giguere, a retired Air Canada pilot from Winnipeg, remembered taking his parents to a Vancouver airplane hanger in 1971 to see a 747.

"The stairs to the cockpit went up four storeys," Giguere said. "My mother asked how it got there. She just couldn't believe that something that big could fly."

For about a year after taking delivery of its first three 747s, Air Canada used the top level of the jet as a bar and lounge for first-class passengers.

Flight attendants dressed in pink lamé wide-legged slacks and fitted jackets poured scotch and water — the favourite drink of the day — and played music on eight-track players.

"It was all so gracious," said Heather Tregaskes, a 54-year-old Air Canada flight attendant who worked in that lounge. "We even had a mirrored wall and a dance floor, and sometimes stewardesses would even dance with customers."

But the party ended "when people figured they could make more money putting seats in there," said Quistberg, who retired in 1991 and now lives in White Rock, B.C.

The 747 model that Air Canada is retiring today is the 747-400, the jet's fourth incarnation. The model is still widely used by airlines around the world.

LondonElite

I believe Boeing announced or indicated that the 748 production line will be shut down after current orders (mostly freight) are filled (and holding out for the new AF1 order). And why would you want to burn more fuel to transport fewer people?

Wpgjetse

No. The 747-8 has been a failure.

quantumofforce

Thailand involves a lot of tarmac walking and mobile stairs still.

Dorian

Yup.

Backlog of 74's is 23, vs ~4500 for 73's and ~700 for 78's.

The only put out one 74 every 60 days.

LondonElite

He wasn't questioning whether it was a commercial superstar or not, simply if it was likely to show up in AC's fleet. By some measures, the A380 is a failure, jet it makes up the bulk of EK's fleet.

Stranger

Both are clear failures. Except the 380 is a bigger one. The 748 being a mere extension of an old program, paid for a long tie ago. Even though early on the 747 nearly bankrupted Boeing, and led to massive layoffs.