Over 450 -400s Delivered; 36 Freighter Orders Remain

An era has ended... with the dawn of another on the horizon. This week, Boeing announced it will end production of the passenger version of its storied 747-400 jumbo jet, as an unidentified customer cancelled the last four orders for the plane.

The Associated Press reports Boeing will continue to build out the remaining 36 orders for the cargo-hauling -400F version of the plane, but the American planemaker will no longer take orders for either version of the -400.

Instead, Boeing will steer customers to its upcoming 747-8, which improves on the venerable 747 by sporting a new wing, a 12-foot fuselage extension, and materials and engines derived from the 787 Dreamliner. The first 747-8 Freighter is due to enter service in 2009, with the passenger-carrying 747-8 Intercontinental following one year later.

The best-selling 747 variant in the model's nearly 40-year history, the 747-400 first flew in 1988, and entered commercial service with launch customer Northwest Airlines the following year. The last of more than 450 747-400 passenger airliners was delivered in April 2005; the last order for the plane was placed in 2002, by China Airlines.

For the moment, the 747-400 continues to be the largest jetliner in passenger service, and the only to carry over 400 passengers. That is expected to change later this year, with Airbus' A380 "superjumbo" is scheduled to enter service with Singapore Airlines after a 22-month delay.

FMI: www.boeing.com