AIRWAYS TRAVELER Queens on Vacation
1 In Palma de Mallorca , Gate C56 is one of the only three airbridge parking stands that can fit a Boeing 747 .
FOR AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS and frequent flyers , the Boeing 747 is an iconic aircraft , the one that revolutionized air travel thanks to its capacity to carry more than 400 passengers across its two decks . The jumbo jet gave airlines the possibility to drastically reduce costs through economies of scale and was the tool that enabled them to introduce new concepts for improved passenger comfort on long-haul flights .
But the march of time is inexorable and , as of May 2024 , only 43 Boeing 747s are still flying regular passenger services around the world . What ’ s more , 27 of those are owned and operated by Lufthansa ( LH ).
Lufthansa received its first 747 in 1970 , and the type has played a crucial role in the carrier ’ s history and growth for over 50 years . The aircraft not only helped LH expand its route network and increase passenger capacity but was also key to establishing the carrier as one of the main players in the aviation industry , particularly in the transatlantic market .
www . airwaysmag . com AIRWAYS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2024 25