See 6 Retired Boeing 747 Planes Converted Into Tourist Attractions

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.

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.

Source: Insider

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

Source: Insider

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

Source: Insider

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

Source: Insider

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

Source: Insider

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

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.

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.

Source: Insider

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).

Source: Insider

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

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.

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.

Source: Insider

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

… and the cockpit, which has been sealed off from the public via a transparent door because there are still some working controls.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Source: Corendon

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.

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.

Source: Jumbo Stay

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

Source: Jumbo Stay

Specifically, there are multi-bed dorms …

Source: Jumbo Stay

… single-person pods in the engines …

Source: Jumbo Stay

… a private room in the wheelhouse …

Source: Jumbo Stay

… and even a double bed in the cockpit.

Source: Jumbo Stay

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

Source: Jumbo Stay

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

… and an observation deck to see Arlanda’s airport operations.

Source: Jumbo Stay

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

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.

Source: Dive Bahrain

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum