Asiana Airlines has flown its last ever ‘Queen of the Skies’ Boeing 747-400 flight as the jumbo jet landed for the final time at Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) in South Korea.
The Boeing 747-400 was filled packed with passengers keen to be on board the iconic aircraft for its final historic flight and say their own personal goodbyes.
The Boeing 747-400, registered HL7428, first set off from Seoul on March 25, 2024, at 10:15 local time, and landed at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at 11:30, where the aircraft received a water salute.
本日営業便ラストフライトとなるアシアナ航空の旅客型747-400(HL7428)が台湾桃園国際空港に到着。
— うまやどのおいる (@umayadonooil) March 25, 2024
消防車によるウォーターサルートで盛大に迎えられました。 pic.twitter.com/N18pxr8puM
Then shortly after 13:30 the Asiana Airlines ‘Queen of the Skies’ took off for its final flight before landing back at ICN one hour and 52 minutes later at 16:35.
Social media was awash with messages of sadness in response to the Boeing 747-400s retirement but also many thanking the aircraft for its loyal service.
HL7428 joined the South Korean airline in 1999, becoming Asiana Airline’s third 747 in the fleet.
アシアナ航空747-400PAXラストフライト、仁川空港に着陸！ pic.twitter.com/kYIoF1LFu1
— うまやどのおいる (@umayadonooil) March 25, 2024
“The last B747-400 passenger plane in Korea. Queen of the Sky B747 started its first operation in 1999. Getting ready to say goodbye after a long flight,” Asiana wrote on its Instagram page when it announced the jet’s retirement in February 2024.
To mark the occasion Asiana was offering passengers 30% off tickets for flights on the Boeing 747-400 throughout March 2024.
𝐎𝐙𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚🛫𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐁𝐲𝐞 𝟕𝟒𝟕-𝟒𝟎𝟎
— 아시아나항공 AsianaAirlines (@Flyasiana) March 25, 2024
하늘 위 여왕의 마지막 비행 날,
마법사님들이 보내주신 따뜻한 마음을 모아
떠나는 B747에게 편지를 썼어요💌
📝이 콘텐츠는 747 Farewell 이벤트에 참여해주신 마법사님들의 댓글을 토대로 제작 되었습니다 pic.twitter.com/mB5TqdWfKl
Lufthansa currently operates the largest fleet of Boeing 747-400s, with eight still flying the ‘Queen of the Sky’ flag.
Other airlines still operating the Boeing 747-400 include Atlas Air, Air Atlanta Europe, and Air China.