Asiana's last 'Queen of the Skies' Boeing 747 makes final flight

The last Boeing 747-400 in Korea, operated by Asiana Airlines, flew its last flight as it flew home from Taiwan on Monday.

Asiana Airlines' B747 passenger aircraft receives a special water salute to commemorate its final flight at Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on Monday. [ASIANA AIRLINES]

Korea bid farewell to its last Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft, operated by Asiana Airlines, as it completed its final flight on Monday.

Departing from Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport at 1:20 p.m. and arriving at Incheon Airport at 4:35 p.m., the final flight was fully booked as aviation enthusiasts secured every seat well in advance.

The Boeing 747, nicknamed the "Queen of the Skies" and "Jumbo Jet," contributed to the popularization of long-haul travel since its introduction in 1970 due to its ability to accommodate more than 500 passengers over long distances.

The last produced Boeing 747 aircraft took off from Paine Field Airport in Washington and followed a flight pattern resembling a crown as it made its way to Atlas Air's cargo base at Cincinnati Airport in Kentucky. The 747 is often celebrated as the "Queen of the Skies." [FLIGHTAWARE]

Asiana Airlines introduced the aircraft in question on June 20, 1999, and over its service life, it accumulated 96,986 flight hours, covering 88 million kilometers (54.7 million miles) across 18,139 flights — roughly equivalent to circling the Earth 2,500 times. It also holds the record for the highest number of Code One missions transporting the Korean president for the airline.

As a symbolic farewell gesture, fire trucks at both departure and arrival airports performed a "water salute" to commemorate the retirement of the iconic aircraft.

"It's with great sadness that I bid farewell to the Boeing 747-400 passenger plane, the first plane that I ever rode," Captain Kim Jae-ho, the pilot of the final flight, said. "I extend my gratitude to all passengers who joined us on this final journey."

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]