Boeing Retires the 747, and the Age of Jumbo Jets

The Boeing 747 has retired. The jets still fly—but new ones won’t be built. On Tuesday, the last 747 rolled off an Everett, Wash. assembly line. This is no surprise. CEO Dave Calhoun said in July 2020 that 747 production would end in 2022. It is, however, an opportunity for investors and plane enthusiasts to reflect on the past.

The 747 has quite a history.

Boeing

announced a plan for a jumbo jet that could seat almost 500 passengers in April 1966. The first test flight was in February 1969. The plane entered commercial service in January 1970 with Pan Am, another source of aviation memories.