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Check out these 6 retired Boeing 747 jumbo jets that have been converted into flightless tourist attractions and entertainment venues


Jumbo Stay 747 cockpit room.
Jumbo Stay 747 cockpit room.
  • The Boeing 747 is beloved in the aviation industry, though high costs have forced some airlines to retire the plane.
  • However, the iconic Queen of the Skies' legacy is being kept alive through tourist attractions across the world.
  • Airlines, airports, and tourism companies have repurposed several retired 747s into things like hotels and dive sites.
Most aviation enthusiasts adore the Boeing 747 jumbo jet, which debuted in 1969 as the world's first widebody plane.

Turkish government Boeing Business Jet 747-8i
A Turkish government Boeing Business Jet 747-8i.

Boeing will stop making the 747 after more than 51 years of passenger flight. Here's the history of how the iconic plane changed the world.

The Queen of the Skies was built to meet the growing demand for air travel and was the first jetliner to make international flying affordable.

Air India Boeing 747
Air India Boeing 747

Source: Janet Bednarek

The first 747 was built at Boeing's gigantic assembly plant in Seattle and was delivered to Pan American World Airways in 1970.

First Boeing 747
First Boeing 747

Source: Insider

The jumbo jet was the first of several 747 variants and featured four engines and two levels.

Japan Boeing 747-400
The Japanese government's former Boeing 747-400 aircraft,

Source: Insider

The massive plane ushered in a new era of aviation and became a symbol of status and extravagance for airlines.

British Airways Boeing 747.
British Airways Boeing 747.

Source: Insider

Particularly, carriers like Qantas and Pan Am used the upper deck for luxuries like bars, restaurants, and lounges.

Lufthansa 747 lounge.
Lufthansa 747 lounge.

Source: Insider

Dozens of global airlines purchased the jet, like Dutch flag carrier KLM …

A KLM 747-400.
A KLM 747-400.

Source: Insider

… United Airlines …

United Airlines 747.
United Airlines 747.

Source: Insider

… and Hong Kong's national airline Cathay Pacific Airways.

Cathay Pacific Boeing 747
Cathay Pacific Boeing 747

Source: Insider

After triumphantly serving airlines as a long-haul workhorse for decades, the 747 started falling short of its twin-engine competitors that could operate the long journeys more efficiently.

Etihad Airways Airbus A350-1000 XWB — Dubai Airshow 2021
An Etihad Airways Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner nicknamed the "Greenliner" at the Dubai Airshow 2021

Source: Insider

Specifically, airliners like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 were more cost-effective for carriers and, as a result, the new planes slowly started taking over markets historically served by the 747.

Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Source: Insider

The retirement of the Queen of the Skies started before the pandemic when airlines like Delta sent its 747s to the boneyard.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 747
Delta Air Lines Boeing 747

Even more iconic planes are disappearing from the skies earlier than planned as the coronavirus continues to wreak airline havoc

However, the COVID-19 crisis exacerbated the cost issues surrounding the jet, forcing several other carriers to retire it during the pandemic, like Qantas …

Qantas 747.
Qantas 747.

Qantas just retired the iconic Boeing 747 with a commemorative last flight flown by the airline's first female captain who drew a kangaroo in the sky

… and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Virgin Atlantic Airways 747.
Virgin Atlantic Airways 747.

Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic will cut thousands of jobs, retire its most iconic planes, and close one of its biggest bases as it fights to survive the pandemic

Despite the plane leaving the skies, not everyone is ready to see it reduced to parts.

A stored aircraft in Pinal Airpark in Marana, Arizona — Pinal Airpark Tour 2021
Pinal Airpark in Marana, Arizona.

Inside a remote Arizona aircraft boneyard storing nearly 300 planes grounded by the pandemic

Instead, several organizations have scooped up the jet and repurposed it into flightless hotels, event spaces, and tourist attractions. Here are six recycled Queen of the Skies that can still be enjoyed by fans.

Atlas Air 747s.
Atlas Air 747s.

How the world's largest airplane boneyard stores and regenerates 3,100 retired aircraft

The most recent repurposed 747 to open to the public is the "party plane" in Cotswold, England.

Boeing 747 "party plane."
Boeing 747 "party plane."

A retired British Airways Boeing 747 was bought for $1.35 by an English airport and converted into a flightless 'party plane' event space — see inside the renovated Queen of the Skies

Cotswold Airport bought the plane from British Airways for £1 ($1.35) and rents it out for £1,000 per hour ($1,340) or €12,000 for 24 hours ($16,100).

British Airways 747 "party plane."
British Airways 747 "party plane."

Source: Insider

The space can be used for things like birthday parties, film sets, or weddings.

Boeing 747 "party plane."
Boeing 747 "party plane."

Source: Insider

The jet is unique because it features the company's old Negus livery that was painted in 2019 for the company's 100th anniversary.

Boeing 747 "party plane."
Boeing 747 "party plane."

Source: Insider

Renovation of the plane cost £500,000 ($670,000), which included transforming the economy cabin into a dance floor with a DJ stand and bar.

Boeing 747 "party plane."
Boeing 747 "party plane."

Source: Insider

The rest of the plane has remained untouched, including the upper deck ...

Boeing 747 "party plane" upper deck.
Boeing 747 "party plane" upper deck.
... and the cockpit, which has been sealed off from the public via a transparent door because there are still some working controls.

Suzannah Harvey inside the Boeing 747 "party plane's" cockpit.
Boeing 747 "party plane" cockpit.

Source: Insider

Another 747 converted into a tourist attraction is the Queen of the Skies parked outside the Corendon Village Hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Corendon 747 in Amsterdam.
Corendon 747 in Amsterdam.

Source: Corendon

Corendon Tourism Group is a leisure travel brand that has an airline based out of Turkey called Corendon Airlines. But, the 747 did not come from the company's fleet.

Corendon Airlines is based in Turkey.
Corendon Airlines is based in Turkey.

Source: Corendon

The jumbo jet is actually a retired KLM aircraft named "City of Bangkok" that flew for the Dutch airline for 30 years. It was taken out of service in 2018 and acquired by Corendon.

KLM Boeing 747.
KLM Boeing 747.

Source: Corendon

To get the 160-ton plane to the hotel, it was transported via highway and through fields on a 200-ton trailer with 192 wheels.

Corendon 747 being transported to the hotel.
Corendon 747 being transported to the hotel.

Source: Corendon

The aircraft has been adorned in Corendon colors and put on display so the public can walk around or sit underneath the jet. Visitors can also tour the 747's interior to see its seats, cockpit, and galleys.

Corendon 747.
Corendon 747.

Source: Corendon

Moreover, the 9th floor of the hotel has a lounge called SkyBar where guests can admire the parked 747 as well as other planes flying over Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

Corendon SkyBar.
Corendon SkyBar.

Source: Corendon

While most retired 747s are daytime tourist attractions, there is one parked in Sweden that hosts overnight stays.

Jumbo Stay 747.
Jumbo Stay 747.

This Jumbo Jet Was Transformed Into A Beautiful Hotel — And You Can Even Sleep In The Cockpit

Jumbo Stay Hotel is a retired Queen of the Skies that opened in 2009 and is parked next to a busy taxiway at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport, giving guests panoramic views of the airfield.

Jumbo Stay 747 reception area.
Jumbo Stay 747 reception area.

Source: Jumbo Stay

The plane flew for a number of airlines before finding its home at Arlanda, including Singapore Airlines, Pan Am, Canadian carrier Nationair, US charter company Tower Air, and Swedish airline Transjet Airways.

Jumbo Stay 747 entrance.
Jumbo Stay 747 entrance.

Source: Jumbo Stay

There are several onboard guest accommodations, including 33 rooms that can be either private or shared.

Jumbo Stay 747 leading to rooms.
Jumbo Stay 747 leading to rooms.

Source: Jumbo Stay

Specifically, there are multi-bed dorms …

Jumbo Stay 747 dorm.
Jumbo Stay 747 dorm.

Source: Jumbo Stay

… single-person pods in the engines …

Jumbo Stay 747 engine room.
Jumbo Stay 747 engine room.

Source: Jumbo Stay

… a private room in the wheelhouse …

Jumbo Stay 747 wheelhouse room.
Jumbo Stay 747 wheelhouse room.

Source: Jumbo Stay

… and even a double bed in the cockpit.

Jumbo Stay 747 cockpit room.
Jumbo Stay 747 cockpit room.

Source: Jumbo Stay

Also onboard is a cafe and bar for guests to eat and relax …

Jumbo Stay 747 cafe.
Jumbo Stay 747 cafe.

Source: Jumbo Stay

... a conference room/lounge area with eight original seats from 1976 ...

Jumbo Stay 747 conference room/lounge area.
Jumbo Stay 747 conference room/lounge area.
… and an observation deck to see Arlanda's airport operations.

Jumbo Stay 747 deck.
Jumbo Stay 747 deck.

Source: Jumbo Stay

Another Queen of the Skies converted into a tourism site is Dive Bahrain's sunken 747 to attract diving enthusiasts.

Boeing 747 submerged off the coast of Bahrain.
Boeing 747 submerged off the coast of Bahrain.

Countries around the world have sunk aircraft like the Boeing 747 to boost diving tourism — here are 6 intentionally submerged planes

The jet, which spent most of its life with Malaysia Airlines, was submerged off Bahrain's coast in 2019 by Falcon Aircraft Recycling.

Falcon Aircraft Recycling specially modified the structure of the plane.
Falcon Aircraft Recycling specially modified the structure of the 747 to sink it.

Source: Dive Bahrain

The plane is part of Dive Bahrain's "underwater theme park" that will house the jet, boats, and several other structures when it is complete.

Boeing 747 sunken off the coast of Bahrain.
Boeing 747 sunken off the coast of Bahrain.

Source: Dive Bahrain

As of today, professional divers from over 50 countries have visited the mammoth 747's underwater site.

Boeing 747 sunken off the coast of Bahrain.
Boeing 747 sunken off the coast of Bahrain.

Source: Dive Bahrain

There are two must-see 747s that are permanently on display in the US. One is part of Delta Air Lines' aviation museum in Atlanta, Georgia.

Delta Flight Museum 747.
Delta Flight Museum 747.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum

The first-ever 747-400 ever built went to Northwest Airlines in 1989 but was taken over by Delta in a 2008 merger between the two carriers.

Northwest's 747-400.
Northwest's 747-400.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum

The jumbo jet, called Ship 6301, was retired in 2015 after flying over 61 million miles. The plane's final flight was from Honolulu to Atlanta, where it has remained ever since.

Delta's first 747-400 last flight.
Delta's first 747-400 last flight.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum

For its retirement, the historic jet was transformed into "The 747 Experience" and welcomes guests who want to learn about the history of the Queen of the Skies and see its inner workings.

Delta Flight Museum 747 opening.
Delta Flight Museum 747 opening.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum

At the exhibit, which opened in 2017, visitors can also sit in the upper deck's first class seats …

Delta Flight Museum 747 upper deck.
Delta Flight Museum 747 upper deck.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum

… check out the cockpit …

Delta Flight Museum 747 cockpit.
Delta Flight Museum 747 cockpit.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum

… walk on the wing …

Delta employees standing on the 747 wing.
Delta employees standing on the 747 wing.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum

… and see the plane's skeleton, including its wiring and electronics.

Inside the Delta Flight Museum's fuselage.
Inside the Delta Flight Museum's fuselage.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum

Also in the US is a 747 on display at Universal Studios in California.

Universal Studios California Studio Tour.
Universal Studios California Studio Tour.

Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying

Visitors to the theme park can go on the Backlot Tour to see the broken-up jet, which was destroyed to create an airplane crash set for Steven Spielberg's movie, "War of the Worlds."

Broken up 747 at Universal Studios California.
Broken up 747 at Universal Studios California.

Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying

The plane cost the production team $60,000, which was just a third of what transporting the decommissioned All Nippon Airways jet to Universal cost.

ANA 747 being broken down in Victorville.
ANA 747 being broken down in Victorville.

Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying

Transporting the 747 required a helicopter, a series of trucks, a police escort, and $200,000.

Universal Studios 747.
Universal Studios 747.

Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying

The scene was filmed at the studio in January 2005, and the plane has been there ever since.

Broken up 747 at Universal Studios California.
Broken up 747 at Universal Studios California.

Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying





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