Airlines

Boeing’s last 747 to roll out of Washington state factory

Boeing is set to roll out its final 747 from a Washington state factory on Tuesday, The 747 earned the title “Queen of the Skies” by flying more opulently. The first 747 was produced in less than 16 months by more than 50,000 Boeing workers.

Boeing is set to roll out its final 747 from a Washington state factory on Tuesday, after more than a half-century of production.

The jumbo jet made its debut in 1969 and has since served in a variety of capacities, including cargo planes, commercial aircraft, and the Air Force One presidential aircraft. It still towers over the majority of other airplanes because it was the largest commercial aircraft in the world and the first with two aisles.

Image Courtesy : Boeing

The design of the 747 incorporated a second deck that extended from the cockpit back over the first third of the aircraft, giving it a prominent hump that gave the plane its nickname, the Whale. The 747 earned the title “Queen of the Skies” by flying more opulently. The first 747 was produced in less than 16 months by more than 50,000 Boeing workers. Since then, the business has finished 1,573 more projects.

Image Courtesy : Boeing

However, over the past 15 years or more, Boeing and its European rival Airbus released new widebody planes with two engines instead of the 747’s four. They were more fuel-efficient and profitable. Although some other foreign airlines, such the Lufthansa, still operate it, Delta was the last to use the 747 for passenger flights, which terminated in 2017.

Image Courtesy : Boeing

The cargo company Atlas Air, who placed a four-ordered 747-8 freighter early this year, is the last customer. The final was scheduled to leave Boeing’s enormous factory in Everett, Washington, on Tuesday night. With its relocation to the Washington, D.C., region, executives of Boeing are now closer to important federal government figures and the Federal Aviation Administration, which approves Boeing passenger and freight aircraft.

Since the deadly 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, Boeing’s relationship with the FAA has been strained. Far longer than Boeing anticipated, it took the FAA over two years to approve design revisions and let the plane take flight again.

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Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.