AIRWAYS TRAVELER
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10 The outdated Economy Class cabin has one big advantage against other interiors : the older , wider seats are significantly more comfortable than any contemporary ones .
That is why we think that aviation culture should be extended to the general public , at least on this aspect . Operating a Lufthansa flight by Boeing 747 or Airbus A321 entails very little difference in schedules and fares . Yet , knowing how the aircraft on which you ’ re flying looks has a profound impact on your overall comfort .
AN ENTHUSIASTIC ATMOSPHERE
The Boeing 747 ’ s iconic silhouette and the role it has played in the aviation industry have cemented its place as one of the most beloved aircraft , not only by aviation enthusiasts but also by airlines and manufacturers . Now that most carriers worldwide have phased it out , many also as a result of the COVID-19 crisis , seeing and flying on the Queen of the Skies has become rarer than ever before .
Today , should someone want to experience the true feeling of flying on such an iconic airplane , the best option is to book one of the few long-haul flights still operated by it . However , this is often not only difficult to organize , but also very expensive . That ’ s why , when Lufthansa announced that it was introducing the Boeing 747 on this shorthaul hop across Europe , the seats were filled very quickly .
I estimated that eight out of 10 passengers on board my flight were there just to fly the 747-400 , just as I was . After landing in Frankfurt , crowds of people gathered to make recordings and take photos of the aircraft , and the passengers made a long queue to see the cockpit .
The cabin crew , who had worked with the Boeing 747 for years , were emotional during this journey , with some Flight Attendants handing out spare safety cards to any aviation geek who wanted a little souvenir to remember this legendary plane .
32 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2024 www . airwaysmag . com