Boeing 747 passenger flights have reduced substantially, reflecting natural and technological evolution. Much more fuel-efficient twinjet equipment—with large capacities and long ranges—has replaced them. Of course, all aircraft types and variants will reduce in use over time, and they’ll eventually be superseded.

According to Cirium Diio data for Q1 2026 (January-March), the world has 3,832 passenger 747 flights, which are operated by Air China, Lufthansa, Korean Air, and Rossiya (for Aeroflot). Jumbo flights have fallen by 96% compared to 20 years ago, when a completely different aviation world existed.

The 747’s Ten Most Popular Routes Since 2006

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Analysis of Cirium data for 2006–2026 shows that all passenger 747 variants operated 1,400+ airport pairs. The Queen of the Skies was seen in 120+ countries, sometimes only once. The United States was the leading nation for such activity. Delta and United used the type then, along with a substantial number of foreign operators. Japan ranked second, followed by the UK, Germany, and Hong Kong.

The top ten airport pairs, shown below, were so popular that they accounted for more than one in seven of all passenger jumbo flights since 2006. With 66,000+ round-trip services, the world’s most popular 747 airport pair was London Heathrow to New York JFK. This is unlikely to be surprising.

In the past 20 years, Heathrow-JFK’s highest period of activity was in 2006. A maximum of 11 daily 747 departures were available each way. Part of the reason was that Air India operated then, stopping at the UK’s busiest airport en route from Mumbai to the Big Apple. With fifth freedom rights, the Indian flag carrier often had low fares between the UK and USA.

A Look At Hong Kong To Taipei

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This short market, which covers 435 nautical miles (806 km) each way, was once among the world’s most exciting airport pairs. For decades, flights were prohibited between mainland China and Taiwan, forcing passengers to change planes en route. Hong Kong played a critical role in this.

The amount of traffic was unbelievable, constituting many millions of passengers. In fact, even now, Hong Kong-Taipei is still extremely popular. In the 12 months to October 2025, booking data shows that over four million passengers flew between the two places, of which 1.6 million were local.

No wonder the short market was once among the world’s top 747-operated passenger routes, with the type operating up to 17 daily in each direction since 2006. More than that, the number of widebody flights generally was staggering. During the past 20 years, it was the world’s fifth-busiest airport pair for twin-aisle equipment, with up to 51 daily flights each way.

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One South Korean Domestic Market

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Notice Seoul Incheon to Jeju. That very short domestic market in South Korea covers just 243 nautical miles (450 km) each way. Yet, it was the world’s tenth most-popular 747 route in the past two decades.

Regular 747 flights existed between 2011 and 2018. Korean Air’s 747-400s and very occasionally its 747-300s operated. On some days, Cirium shows that 15 daily jumbo flights operated each way.

While the type has long gone from the route, it remains the world’s number one airport pair for passenger traffic (and flights and seats for sale). Jeju is the so-called Hawaii of Asia. It is quick and inexpensive to reach, has some of South Korea’s best scenery and beaches, and there’s no other realistic way of reaching the island except by air.