The COVID-19 pandemic has seen several aircraft being retired earlier than expected. These planes include Airbus A380s, Boeing 747s, and Airbus A340s. Asiana Airlines was no exception, and the airline was facing financial difficulties at the time. It was expected that Asiana would retire their Boeing 747-400s permanently. 

One sole aircraft, HL7428, made it through the pandemic and is still flying for Asiana. However, with HL7428 nearing 25 years of operation, Asiana has announced that the aircraft will retire on March 25.

A Brief History of HL7428

HL7428 is a Boeing 747-400 built and had its first flight on May 29, 1998. However, the 1997 Asian financial crisis affected South Korea badly, and there were difficulties in securing U.S. dollars to pay for the aircraft. As a result, HL7428 was stored in the Mojave Desert for a year before arriving in Korea as brand new. At the time, HL7428 was one of three passenger Boeing 747s in the Asiana fleet, alongside two cargo 747s.

There was supposed to be another Boeing 747-400M in the fleet, HL7424, but Asiana canceled its order due to the Asian financial crisis. Various governments later flew HL7424 in a VIP configuration, and JetOneX currently possesses it, while the registration HL7424 was used for a Korean Air Boeing 747-200F.

Afterward, HL7428 remained in the Asiana fleet. HL7428 was delivered with a seat configuration of ten first class seats, 45 business class seats, and 304 economy class seats. Business class was on the aircraft's lower and upper deck. In April 2017, HL7428 was reconfigured as having 10 first class seats, 24 business class seats, and 364 economy class seats, as the business class section in the lower deck was removed for more space for economy class. In total, there are 398 seats. 

Interestingly, Asiana eliminated first class service in September 2019 and called their first class products "Business Suites" for the A380 and "Royal Business" for the B747. These seats receive the same service as business class, but are seated in the old first class seats.

HL7428 underwent a livery change in October 2006, along with other aircraft of the Asiana fleet. The new livery has a Eurowhite background, with the tail and wing tip design inspired by Korea's traditional clothing, 'Saekdonggori.' HL7428 has been flying in these colors ever since.

Current Routes

While HL7428 flew worldwide, including London, New York, Frankfurt, Tokyo, etc., the aircraft is currently flying short-haul international Asia routes to Japan and Taiwan. Starting in December 2023, HL7428 flew the following scheduled routes from Seoul-Incheon (ICN):

• Tokyo-Narita (NRT)
• Sapporo-New Chitose (CTS)
• Taipei Taoyuan (TPE)

On February 29, HL7428 landed at Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE), a flight from Seoul/Incheon International Airport (ICN), flight OZ 711. The final revenue-earning flight for HL7428 is scheduled for March 25 from Taipei to Seoul, flying as OZ 712. A retirement ceremony is said to be planned at Taipei and Seoul/Incheon on that day.

Other Boeing 747-400s

Asiana currently flies ten other Boeing 747-400s, all in a cargo configuration. They are comprised of the following:

• Four B747-400Fs
• Six B747-400BDSFs

However, this is not the last of its kind, as Air China flies B747-400s for domestic Chinese flights. Lufthansa also flies the Boeing 747-400 and on the Frankfurt (FRA) - Seoul/Incheon (ICN) route on flights LH 712 and LH 713. This means South Korea would continue seeing passenger traffic using Boeing 747-400s.

Some other airlines, such as Air Atlanta Europe, Mahan Air, and Atlas Air, operate the passenger variant of the B747-400, albeit on limited occurrence. Lufthansa is flying the most 747-400s, with 7 of 8 aircraft currently flying.