Last Swissair 747 completes farewell voyage

An era in Swiss aviation history has come to an end as Swissair's only Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet still in service landed at Zurich's Kloten airport for the last time. It took off from the American city of Atlanta.

An era in Swiss aviation history has come to an end as Swissair’s only Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet still in service landed at Zurich’s Kloten airport for the last time. It took off from the American city of Atlanta.

A large crowd turned out at Kloten to witness the landing of the last 747 to carry Switzerland’s national colours. Swissair will hold a news conference later in the day to look back on the aircraft’s distinguished service and to look forward to the company’s future, including its plans to replace the 747s with Airbus 340s within two years.

The 747 revolutionized intercontinental travel in the 1970s with its unmatched combination of size and range, giving it the lowest operating costs in the industry. The aircraft carries up to 350 passengers and set a number of records for non-stop flights. The 747 became a favourite of airlines and passengers alike.

Swissair decided to acquire the aircraft in 1967, and the first Swissair 747 went into service in 1971. Over the years, Switzerland’s national carrier acquired seven jumbos, spending more than one billion francs.