The Twilight of the Queen of the Skies Era in the Sky of America

The Boeing 747-400, one of the largest passenger aircraft in the world became the backbone for many major airlines in the world. But it will disappear from American sky forever as two major airlines of United States of America announced if they would retire the Boeing 747-400 faster than the scheduled year.

United Airlines announced if they would retire the Boeing 747-400 faster than the schedule. They would retire the type in 2018, instead in the scheduled year in 2020. The reason is the spare parts of Boeing 747-400 now become more expensive because many airlines stop to operate Boeing 747-400. So, the spare parts become rarer and become more expensive.

N178UA, one of the Boeing 747-400 of United Airlines at San Francisco International Airport

Now, United Airlines has 22 Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The operations bases of United Airlines Boeing 747-400 are in Chicago O'Hare and in San Francisco. From February 2017, United Airlines will end Boeing 747-400 flights from and to Chicago O'Hare. Now, United Airlines operates this aircraft to Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London-Heathrow, Seoul, Shanghai, and Tokyo-Narita. United Airlines will replace Boeing 747-400 with the Airbus A350-1000 XWB that will be delivered to United Airlines in 2018. United Airlines planned, all the Boeing 747-400 in its fleet will be retired by the end of 2018.

Delta Airlines, the major airline of the United States of America also announced if they will retire its Boeing 747-400 in 2017. Delta Airlines received its first Boeing 747-400 in 2008 from Northwest Airlines after Delta Airlines merged with Northwest Airlines. By the merger of Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines, Delta Airlines received the prototype of Boeing 747-400, N661US (also called 'Delta Ship 6301'). But, N661US was retired on 9 September 2015, with the final flight from Honolulu to Atlanta, operated as Delta Airlines flight 836. Now, Delta Airlines has 9 Boeing 747-400 in active service.

N661US (Delta Ship 6301), the prototype of Boeing 747-400 owned by Delta Airlines. This photo was taken on 9 September 2015 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on its last flight from Honolulu to Atlanta

The Boeing 747-400 will be retired by the end of 2018 from American sky after nearly 30 years of its dedication to taking people to see the world. The Queen of the Skies finally will fly through the twilight of its era.

Delta Airlines' Airbus A321-200 First Passenger Flight Schedule

N301DN, Delta Airlines’ first Airbus A321-200 on a final approach to Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport during its second 30 minutes test flight on 19 February 2016

On 17 March 2016, Airbus delivered N301DN, the first Airbus A321-200 aircraft of Delta Airlines. The airplane was ferried from Hamburg to the main hub of Delta Airlines, Atlanta. Atlanta may be the home for N301DN for more than 20 years later. Every aircraft will fly for the very first time. So also with N301DN. Until now, it logged 18 hours 26 minutes test flight with seven takeoffs and landing cycle. But, it had never flown with passengers before. But, not for a long time. Delta Airlines announced if they scheduled the first passengers flight of Delta Airlines' Airbus A321-200. The inaugural flight will take place on 2 May 2016 from Atlanta to Orlando. It will be the first step in the next twenty years (or maybe for shorter or for longer times) in Delta Airlines. Good luck Delta Airlines and Airbus A321-200!