IATA 742ICAO B742

Boeing 747-200

Boeing

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Iconic widebody jumbo jet that shaped long-haul aviation.

First flight

1971

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

~366 passengers (typical 3-class)

Range

12,700 km

Engines

4 × turbofan (Pratt & Whitney JT9D, General Electric CF6, or Rolls-Royce RB211)

Status

Retired (passenger service); limited freighter use

The Boeing 747-200 is a long-range, wide-body commercial jet that entered service in the early 1970s as an improved variant of the original 747-100. It featured more powerful engines and increased fuel capacity, enabling significantly greater range and payload than its predecessor, making it ideal for high-density intercontinental routes. The -200 was offered in several variants, including the 747-200B passenger version, the 747-200F freighter, and the 747-200C convertible, giving airlines and cargo operators considerable flexibility. Its four-engine configuration and double-deck forward fuselage became one of the most recognizable silhouettes in aviation history. By the 2000s and 2010s, most passenger airlines had retired the 747-200 in favor of more fuel-efficient aircraft, though some examples continued flying as freighters into later decades. The type played a decisive role in democratizing air travel by dramatically lowering per-seat operating costs on long-haul routes.

Notable operators

Major operators included Pan Am, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Japan Airlines, and Air France, among many others.

Notable facts

›The 747-200 entered airline service in 1971, succeeding the original 747-100 with greater range and payload.
›It was offered in passenger, freighter, and convertible variants, broadening its commercial appeal.
›The type could carry over 400 passengers in high-density all-economy configurations.
›Some 747-200Fs continued operating as freighters well into the 21st century.
›The 747-200 was selected as the basis for the US Air Force's E-4B Nightwatch airborne command post.