ANA has scheduled in the final flights of the Boeing 747-400 as it prepares to retire them from their fleet completely from its fleet. Already retired from their long haul network, its time for the domestic network to wave sayonara to four engined wonder-machine.
ANA Pokemon Jet – Boeing 747-400 (You can play Who’s That Pokemon in the comments ;)!) – Image GhettoIFE.
The final services will to Japanese Domestic airports will be as follows, operating from Tokyo Haneda:
Operating 30th March 2014 Tokyo Haneda – Fukuoka NH243 DEPART HND 0830 ARRIVE FUK 10:20 NH250 DEPART FUK 1110 ARRIVE HND 12:50 Booked for 30th March, Boeing 747-400 Tokyo Haneda – Sapporo NH069 DEPART HND 1500 ARRIVE CTS 16:30 NH074 DEPART CTS 1730 ARRIVE HND 19:05 Booked for 30th March, Boeing 747-400 31st March 2014 Tokyo Haneda – Okinawa NH127 DEPART HND 08:40 ARRIVE OKA 1115 NH126 DEPART OKA 12:35 ARRIVE HND 1500
ANA have operated various editions of the Boeing 747, including the Japan specific 747-100BSR, the 747-200B and of course, the 747-400 both in international and domestic configurations.
The use of 747s has been reducing for some time as ANA switch to 777s and 787s to deliver both international and domestic traffic as the cost of operating a four-engined aircraft is rather expensive.
It also closes a chapter on Japanese aviation where the 747 had been a popular aircraft with Japan Airlines as well – who pulled their 747 fleet in 2011, ending 41 years of 747 operation.
As time goes on, airlines will look for more efficiencies, and see the queen of the sky is costing a lot to keep in the air – and you’ll see more 777-300ERs take their place. For now – and for those who enjoy a quiet and small upper deck, there are still a fair few carriers operating 747s.
It could be time to hunt them down over the next few years….
The good-bye page is at http://www.ana.co.jp/thanks_jumbo/
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