The covid-19 pandemic is indeed the worse crisis in aviation history. This has forced airlines to really prioritize newer and more efficient aircraft in the fleet. This now caused the inevitable fate of old and less fuel efficient jet aircraft. Hence, here are some spot worthy commercial jets that may soon be a rare sight in our skies. Yes we are talking about jet airplanes like jumbos, 4-engine aircraft, and classic airplanes.
Aircraft like the Boeing 747, Airbus A340, McDonnel MD-82, and more, were common in our airports and in the sky. However, they are now beginning to be rare in exchange of Boeing 777s, 787s, 737NGs, Airbus A330s, A350s, and A320s.
Here are some aircraft which we can consider as “endangered species” as their number in active duty begin to dwindle down. So if you see them flying in our skies and in our airports, go take your camera and spot. Or, book a ticket to fly in these soon to be rare aircraft.
Boeing 737 originals and classics
Boeing 737 classics include variants like the 737-200, 737-300, 737-400, and 737-500. These jets were common in the Philippines way back the late 80s to early 2000s. Philippine Airlines operated a number of 737-300 and a few 737-400. Air Philippines, GrandAir, and SEA Air operated the 737-200 variants. However in a time when the Airbus A320 family took over Philippine skies, these little Boeings are now a rare sight. A few 737 classics still fly Philippine skies but are cargo aircraft. These are a 737-200 operated by SEA Air Cargo and two 737-300 operated by PSI Air 2007.
Airlines around the world who operated 737 classics are now replacing them with 737NG, the 737 MAX, and the Airbus A320 family. In the Philippines, passenger commercial airlines are now using the A320s for their narrowbody aircraft need. So if you see a Boeing 737 classic flying or in operation, go take a snap.
Boeing 747-400
The “queen of the skies” or “jumbo jet”. With 694 of these Jumbo variants produced, the 747-400 was a common sight for how many years. This aircraft was so common in international airports way back as most legacy carriers operated them. Philippine Airlines operated 5 747-400s. Today though, the “queen” has become a totally rare sight in our skies. Spotting an Asiana 747-400 was totally a delight for many of our spotters at the NAIA.
Airlines began switching to more environment friendly and efficient long range jets which has caused many airlines to slowly retire their 747-400s. However, the covid-19 crisis brought in the final blow on the queen. The lack of need for large capacity aircraft had plummeted. Airlines not only grounded their remaining jumbos, but they were sent for early retirement. Today, only 54 of these passenger 747-400s are still flying for the airlines as of April 2021. This includes those that are parked. Way back, 747-400s were just too common for us not to take much notice. However, seeing a classic queen still flying is truly a feast for spotters.
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717-200 is basically the last of the “DC-9” frames which ended production in 2006. These jets are ultra rare, in fact, we doubt if we would still see one in the Philippines as Bangkok Air retired their last 717. They flew a 717 to Manila way back. Currently, there are still 89 Boeing 717s still flying for three airlines. The current largest operator of 717s is Delta. So if you want to get in one of these jets, You would have to fly all the way to USA and take a Delta flight. You may also go to Australia and take a QantasLink 717 flight. If you are in Hawaii, Hawaiian operates 19 of these t-tail regional jets. The Boeing 717-200 is basically a renamed MD-95 which uses Rolls-Royce BR715 turbofan engines. Currently, 717s are being replaced by the current 737s, Airbus A320, the new Airbus A220 series, and the Embraer E-jets.
Airbus A340 family
Truly, “quads” or quad-engine aircraft are becoming a rare sight. The A340 series is one of them. For Philippine Airlines which operated a total of 10 A340 all in all, this became a work-horse for the ultra long range sector. These ‘quads’ complimented the airline’s 747-400s. PAL’s 340s were flying non-stop Manila to the United States West Coast routes. Other airlines operated different variants of the A340 from the -200 until the longest -600 series. The 340 was a common aircraft until the advent of twin-engine ultra long range aircraft like the Boeing 777-300ER. Airlines then began purchasing the newer, more efficient, and ETOPs-rated Boeing 777-300ER instead of the 4-engine A340-500 and -600. This prompted Airbus to end the production of the A340 series in 2011.
Today, Airlines are retiring their A340s in exchange of Boeing 777-300ER jets. Airbus then replaced the A340 with the twin-engine carbon composite ultra-long range A350 line-up. This pandemic has even forced airlines to speed-up the retirement of A340s in exchange of A350s and Boeing 787s.
This makes the A340 one of the spot worthy commercial jets today.
Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 was Airbus’ aircraft which redefined medium range air travel. It became the very first wide-body twin-engine aircraft that can take in around 250 passengers. Only a handful of airlines currently operate the Airbus A300 and most of them are for cargo services. The Air Hong Kong A300F is a regular visitor in the Philippines. Currently, Air Hong Kong still operates 8 A300-600F aircraft. If you want to spot them, just head out to the NAIA and you should see one there.
While they will still be a regular visitor for such time, the pandemic has created a demand for more P2F otherwise known as “Preighters”. These are passenger aircraft that can easily be converted into freighters. In other words, these are hybrids. Air Hong Kong now operates A330-300P2F aircraft. There is no doubt that these A300s will soon be replaced by more efficient A330P2F aircraft.
Airbus A380
The superjumbo Airbus A380 is the biggest passenger aircraft in the world. However, it only enjoyed enjoyed 18 years of “fame”. Tagged as “the right airplane at the wrong time”, only a total of 256 Airbus A380s have been ordered with 241 already delivered to 14 customers. The advent of twin-engine ultra long range aircraft has totally changed the ballgame for the A380. Instead of a “hub and spoke” business model in which the A380 was intended to specialize in, airlines shifted to a point-to-point service model. Thanks to newer twin-engine ultra long range jets like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, most airlines decided to add more of these over superjumbos.
The A380 was also too large and majority of airlines will not be able to fill them all the time. They were also expensive, and less efficient than the small twin-engine aircraft. The covid-19 proved to be the killing blow. Due to the drop in travel demand, many A380 airline operators had begun retiring them one by one. Airlines like Etihad have moved from operating superjumbos to just a lean wide-body fleet of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s.
It may still take several years before the last A380 is retired however, they are now rare. Many of them are still grounded while their fate remains a mystery. Definitely a spot worthy aircraft which you can share to your family’s future generation.
Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental
The last variant of the passenger version ‘queen’, the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental. To us, this is the most beautiful version of the queen. This is currently the world’s longest operational passenger aircraft with 4 fuel-efficient GE GENx engines and a new wing design. Despite its beauty and efficiency, only 44 of the passenger 747-8 were sold as compared to its freighter version which is at 97. It’s rarity also ads to its beauty, with only a few of these jets now flying. Lufthansa is the biggest 747-8I operator with 19 in its fleet.
Good thing though that Lufthansa, Korean Air, and Air China still operates this latest version of the passenger 747 but we don’t know until when. The pandemic has forced airlines to choose smaller and long range widebody aircraft. Boeing will soon release its 777-9X which can carry more passengers than the current 777-300ER and the A350-1000.
The 747-8I is indeed a rare bird worth spotting. During the middle of the pandemic in 2020, Lufthansa would regularly send their 747-8I to Manila which became a delight for the Filipino spotters.
If you can get in one of these ‘queens’ please do. Enjoy the moment. If you see one, take a picture. Definitely spot worthy. Truly one of the most spot worthy commercial jets.
Mc Donnell MD-11F
We cannot help but include the last of the widebody tri-jets, the Mc Donnell MD-11F. While passenger versions are no longer operating after losing to the Airbus A340, freighter versions still continue to operate. Way back, these tri-jets beginning from the DC-10 to the MD-11 were a regular sight in Philippine skies. Philippine Airlines operated both DC-10 and wet-leased MD-11s. Then of course, you had Cathay Pacific operating Lockheed L-1011 Tristar aircraft. Today, tri-jets are rare. These MD-11s are slowly being replaced by the Boeing 747-8F and the 777-200F. So don’t miss that opportunity to spot these rare tri-jets!
Definitely one of the most spot worthy commercial jets currently operating too.
Indeed, the covid-19 pandemic has changed aviation for good. Even the choice of aircraft has changed. Most of these aircraft still do fly but only time can tell until when we would be seeing them.
