The Most Spacious Business Class Seats You Can Still Book On A Boeing 747

Only four carriers still run regularly scheduled Boeing 747 passenger flights in 2026, even though many operators have retired the “Queen of the Skies” since American Airlines started withdrawals in 1974. The remaining fleets are Lufthansa (25 aircraft in service), Air China (9), Korean Air (4), and Rossiya Airlines (6). The appeal for business-class passengers is often the 747’s upper deck layout, which is physically separated and can create more space than some other premium cabins. Seat quality varies widely by airline. Compared with newer jets, fuel burn is higher: the 747-400 and 747-8 are cited at about 8.83–12 tons per hour versus 7.35–7.5 for the 777-300ER.