The 747-8 is the final and longest version of Boeing's four-engine jumbo jet. In US skies it is mostly a freighter flown by UPS, Atlas and foreign cargo airlines, plus passenger 747-8s from Lufthansa, Korean Air and Air China.
747-8 at a glance
- First flight
- 2010 (747-8F); 2011 (747-8I)
- Length
- 250 ft 2 in (76.3 m)
- Wingspan
- 224 ft 7 in (68.4 m)
- Engines
- 4 × GE GEnx-2B turbofans
- Seats
- ~410–467 (747-8I)
- Cruise speed
- ~490 kt (564 mph) / Mach 0.855
- Service ceiling
- 43,100 ft
- Range
- ~7,700 nmi (8I); ~4,100 nmi (8F at max payload)
How to recognize the 747-8
The 747 is unmistakable: four engines and a humped upper deck behind the cockpit. The 747-8 refines the classic shape with a longer body and newer wing.
- Four engines: GEnx-2B turbofans with sawtooth chevrons on the nacelles, similar to the 787's engines.
- Hump: the upper deck extends well back from the cockpit. The passenger 747-8I has a longer hump than older 747s; the 747-8F freighter has a shorter one.
- Wingtips: raked wingtips that sweep back to a point, instead of the upright winglets on the 747-400.
- Length: about 250 ft, noticeably longer than the 747-400 and longer than a 777-300ER.
- Freighter cues: no cabin windows on the main deck and a nose cargo door that swings up for loading.
- Landing gear: 18 wheels, including four main gear legs.
- Contrail: four contrails at cruise that merge into a wide pair or one thick trail.
From very far away, a large twin may look like a 747. Count the contrails: four distinct streams usually mean a four-engine jet. See contrails explained.
On the ground, the 747-8 looks enormous, with its nose cargo door on freighters often open during loading. Look for the long upper deck and four engines.
Where and when you'll see it
UPS (callsign UPS) and Atlas Air (GTI) fly most 747-8Fs seen in the US, along with Cargolux, Cathay Pacific Cargo, Korean Air Cargo and other foreign carriers. Freighters cluster around cargo hubs such as Louisville, Anchorage, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York JFK. Anchorage is a classic stop for transpacific freighters. Passenger 747-8Is from Lufthansa, Korean Air and Air China fly to major gateways.
Typical cruise is FL300 to FL400, often lower early in heavy flights. On ADS-B the type code is B748 and the emitter category is heavy. The future Air Force One aircraft, VC-25Bs, are also based on the 747-8.
UPS uses 747-8Fs on long-haul cargo routes to Asia and Europe from its Louisville hub, while Atlas flies them for customers around the world.
Easily confused with
- Boeing 777-300ER: The 777-300ER has only two engines and no hump.
- McDonnell Douglas MD-11F: The MD-11 has three engines, one high in the tail, and no hump.
Quick facts
- The 747-8 was the longest airliner in the world when it entered service, at about 250 ft.
- Boeing delivered the last 747, a 747-8F for Atlas Air, in January 2023, ending more than 50 years of production.
- The 747-8 uses engines derived from the 787's GEnx, which is why both have chevrons on the nacelles.
747-8 questions
Are 747s still flying passengers in the US?
No US airline flies passenger 747s anymore, but Lufthansa, Korean Air, Air China and others fly passenger 747-8s to US cities.
Why do I see so many 747s at Anchorage?
Anchorage sits on the great-circle route between Asia and North America, so cargo 747s stop there to refuel and swap crews.
Cities where it's a regular
Miami · Louisville · Anchorage
Spot one live
Open the live sky tool and look for B748 in the type column, or browse the live map on airplanes.live.