How Fast Does A Boeing 747 Go?

The Boeing 747 was, and still is, one of the most iconic aircraft to grace the skies. While its operational performance did not match the supersonic speeds of Concorde, the 747 was able to clock up surprisingly high speeds, and even broke a few records over the years. Each of the six main variants of the 747 has a slightly different performance and top speed, with one capable of flying at speeds of over 1,000 km/h.

The early Boeing 747 variants

The earliest variants of the 747, known as the 747-100 and 747-200, entered into service in 1970 and 1972, respectively. The 747-100 could reach top speeds of 600 mph (967 km/h), while the -200 variant was slightly quicker at 610 mph (981 km/h).

The unique Boeing 747SP entered into service in 1976 with launch customers Pan Am and Iran Air. The variant came about following a request from the two carriers to build an aircraft capable of flying non-stop between New York and the Middle East.

When Iran Air launched its New York to Tehran route with the 747SP, it became the longest non-stop commercial flight in the world at the time. With a top speed of over 621 mph (1,000 km/h), the aircraft was also able to make these long journeys quicker than previous variants.

When designing the Boeing 747-300, Boeing made a number of minor aerodynamic modifications to the aircraft, giving it a top speed of 619 mph (996 km/h).

Boeing 747-400 and 747-8

By far the most popular 747 variant was the Boeing 747-400, distinguishable from the 747-300 by its wingtips. The aircraft had a top speed of 583 mph (939 km/h). However, in February 2020, a British Airways Boeing 747-400 broke the transatlantic subsonic speed record, reaching a top speed of 825 mph as it flew from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in just four hours and 56 minutes. This was possible thanks to unusually strong winds blowing eastbound across the Atlantic.

Photo: david hili | Shutterstock

The newest 747 model, the 747-8, entered into passenger service in 2013, and is today operated by the likes of Lufthansa and Korean Air. This aircraft has a top speed of 614 mph (988 km/h), making it one of the fastest 747 variants.

For a quick comparison, the table below shows a breakdown of the top speeds of all the Boeing 747 variants to have been produced over the years:

How does the Boeing 747 compare to other iconic aircraft?

Despite its impressive capabilities, the Boeing 747 was not particularly well-known for its speed. How does it compare to other iconic aircraft? It comes in behind the mighty Airbus A380 which has a top speed of 634mph (1,020 kph), while Concorde, with its supersonic capabilities, takes the lead with a staggering 1,354 mph (2,179 km/h).

Photo: ThaKlein | Shutterstock

Throughout its production life, the US manufacturer built more than 1,500 Boeing 747s. Over the years, major operators worldwide have included Qantas, Pan Am, Delta Air Lines, and Air India.

However, rising fuel prices, coupled with the development of more efficient, modern aircraft, meant that the Boeing 747 fell out of favor with airlines around the world in the early part of the 21st century. The pandemic was then largely considered to be the final nail in the coffin for the Queen of the Skies, and Boeing put an end to the production of the iconic aircraft in 2023.

Today, there is an ever-decreasing number of passenger 747s still flying. The latest data from ch-aviation shows that among the airlines still operating commercial passenger services with the Boeing 747 are:

• Lufthansa: 6 x Boeing 747-400s, with an average age of 24 years old, and 19 x Boeing 747-8s, with an average age of 11 years old.
• Korean Air: 8 x Boeing 747-8s, with an average age of 8 years old.
• Air China: 3 x Boeing 747-400s, with an average age of 28 years old, and 7 x Boeing 747-8s, with an average age of 10 years old.

That said, with its impressive capacity, the Boeing 747 still remains a popular choice for multiple cargo operators around the world.