Freighters · Boeing
Boeing 747-8 B748
The Boeing 747-8 is the final, longest and most efficient version of the 747 Jumbo Jet, built as the 747-8F freighter and the 747-8I passenger model. At 76.3 m it was the longest airliner in the world when introduced. Production ended in 2023, closing more than 50 years of 747 production.
747-8s airborne over the US now
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of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
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747-8s in the air over the last 24 hours
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Specifications
- ICAO code
- B748
- First flight
- 2010
- Typical cruise
- 493 kt / 567 mph
- Service ceiling
- 43,100 ft
- Range
- 4,120 nm / 4,741 mi
- Capacity
- ~134 t payload (747-8F) or 410-467 seats (747-8I)
- Length
- 76.3 m / 250 ft
- Wingspan
- 68.4 m / 224 ft
Engines: 4 x GE GEnx-2B turbofans. Family: 747. Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
In US airspace most 747-8s are freighters of UPS, Atlas Air and Cargolux, linking hubs like Louisville, Anchorage and Chicago with Asia and Europe. Lufthansa and Korean Air fly the passenger version into US gateways, and two highly modified 747-8s are being prepared as the next Air Force One.
Main US operators: UPS, Atlas Air, Cargolux, Lufthansa, Korean Air.
How to recognize a 747-8
- The unmistakable 747 hump, longer and more stretched than on the 747-400.
- Four engines with chevron-serrated nacelles.
- Raked wingtips with no winglets.
- Freighters have a short upper deck and a hinged nose cargo door.
How it looks on a flight tracker
Freighters often cruise at FL320 to FL380 at 460 to 560 kt, heading to and from Anchorage on transpacific runs. Look for UPS, GTI, CLX, DLH and KAL callsigns.
History
The 747-8F entered service with Cargolux in 2011 and the 747-8I with Lufthansa in 2012. The last 747, a 747-8F for Atlas Air, was delivered in January 2023.
Where 747-8s are right now
Open this view on airplanes.live →Questions
What is the ICAO code for the Boeing 747-8?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Boeing 747-8 is B748. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the 747-8 fly?
The Boeing 747-8 typically cruises at about 493 knots true airspeed (about 567 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the 747-8 fly?
Its service ceiling is about 43,100 ft.