By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Reading: Is the Age of the Four-Engined Airliners over?
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Signin Sign In
Follow US
Copyright © Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2025 | All Rights Reserved
Travel Radar - Aviation News > News > Is the Age of the Four-Engined Airliners over?

Is the Age of the Four-Engined Airliners over?

Travel Radar
Last updated: 27 April 2020 23:41
By Travel Radar Staff
5 Min Read
Share
Boeing 747
SHARE

There was a time when four-engined airliners were the norm in commercial air travel. From their roots laid in the world’s first passenger jet, aircraft manufacturers were quick to embrace the concept and readily implemented it across multiple aircraft of the ‘Jet Age’. 

Summary
Why use four engines?Queen of the Skies – Boeing 747Superjumbo – Airbus A380Decline of Four-Engined Airliners

Why use four engines?

Boeing 747-436
Boeing 747-436 | © Nathan Coats

To fully answer the question of why even use four engines in the first place, we must explore its origins. It was the legendary De Havilland Comet -world’s first commercial jet- that laid the groundwork for aircraft harbouring four engines. Many design flaws hindered its commercial success, allowing its competitors to capitalize on the shortcomings. The result was the emergence of the Boeing 707 and DC-8; both dominated the Jet Age and advanced the case for commercial quadjets. 

Aerospace manufacturers adopted the quadjet design from the get-go because of their compelling range. However, high fuel consumption by individual turbojet engines meant that short-to-medium haul flights weren’t economically viable.

To best illustrate the usefulness and eventual decline of the quadjets, we will revisit the story of two of the more popular ones, each meeting a fate different from the other. The iconic Boeing 747 and the exemplary Airbus A380. 

A380 and B747

Queen of the Skies – Boeing 747

Long before any traces of the Airbus A380 surfaced, Boeing had already delivered its first jumbo quadjet, whose initial variant could carry up to 366 passengers. No commercial airliner at the time could compete with its sheer size. 

The noteworthy aspect of the 747 was that Boeing built the aircraft to fit two shoes. Not only was it a passenger jumbo jet, but it could also assume the role of a freighter if need be. This decision was largely in part of Boeing’s fears that supersonic flight would dominate air travel of the future. 

Thankfully for Boeing, this experiment paid off as the 747 still finds use as both freighter and passenger jet in many airlines today.

Superjumbo – Airbus A380

The relatively new mammoth airliner, the A380 turned 15 yesterday and is sadly nearing its demise as production halts in 2021. Though the A380 found success with its biggest operator, Emirates, Airbus failed to collect orders from other airline giants in time. A major reason for this success was the Dubai International airport. Over there, the A380 could finally do what Airbus built it for. It became Emirates’ main workhorse for lengthy transcontinental routes, transporting 525 passengers on a typical flight.

With declining orders from Emirates, Airbus finally retired the superjumbo in 2019; suffering a $25bn dollar loss in the entire A380 episode.

Decline of Four-Engined Airliners

Advancements in aircraft technology meant that jet engines became vastly more efficient and could travel a significantly greater distance than their primitive forms. The entire purpose of the quadjet was to fly long-haul routes. Now their twinjet counterparts could accomplish the same goal with almost the same number of passengers and lesser fuel. 

point_hub_networkAdditionally, Boeing and Airbus both designed their quadjets to operate within the hub-and-spoke framework. But this system disintegrated into the now dominant point-to-point model because of deregulations and better coordination between spoke cities. This means that rather than operating long-haul routes with the heavy four-engined jets, airlines preferred flying between airports with smaller and more efficient twin-jets. They also avoid paying the high operational and maintenance costs involved in keeping the quadjets in their fleet. 

Boeing Dreamlifter
Boeing Dreamlifter | © Robert Stankiewicz

As the world gravitates towards aircraft designed with a focus on optimum efficiency, a lower carbon footprint and higher fuel economy; the four-engined airliner’s survival is uncertain. Cargo airlines and militaries will, however, continue using them.

No, they won’t disappear from the skies anytime soon, but they will become a rare sight, eventually.

You Might Also Like

First 777-200LR Heads for Teardown
Smoke in Cockpit for Lufthansa CRJ-900
From Leisure Airline to a Diversified Business: The Growth of Neos Air
Extraordinary footage of LATAM flight landing with broken wheel
Is Flight Mode Really A Necessity?
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link
What’s your thoughts?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Angry0
Travel Radar
ByTravel Radar Staff
Follow:
Articles from guest contributors wishing to remain anonymous are credited to this account. Want to contribute to Travel Radar either in-name, or anonymously? Get in touch: [email protected]
Previous Article Inmarsat and APEX join forces to connect aviation industry during global crisis with online broadcast event
Next Article Norwegian Predicts Grounding Until 2021
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest

guest

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe

Trending News

Airbus A321 Air Astana P4-OAS
Air Astana to Expand Network in the Middle East and Asia
Airlines Aviation Route Development
Emrecan Ergin, Vice President, Middle East and Africa at PPG Group
Plaza Premium Group Appoints the New Vice President, Emrecan Ergin
Airports Aviation Careers
EasyJet aircraft
easyJet Launch Five-Star Luxury Holiday Package Collection
Airlines Aviation Route Development Travel
BA CityFlyer Embraer
British Airways Announces Transatlantic Expansion With New Direct U.S Flight
Aircraft Aviation Travel
A LEGO figure next to a Billund Airport and Norwegian signboard.
Norwegian Announces New Billund – Edinburgh Route
Airlines Aviation Route Development
//

Travel Radar is the leading digital hub for all things aviation and air-travel. Discover our latest aviation news, aviation data, insight and analysis.

Discover

  • Latest News
  • Subscribe
  • Weekly Digest
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Media Coverage
  • Press & Events
  • Join Our Team
  • Our Brands

Signup to our Newsletter!

And get the latest aviation news via our weekly news digest!

© Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2015-2025 | ISSN #2635-0696 | Trademark #UK00003579704
wpDiscuz
adbanner
Welcome to the TR Community!

Sign in to your account

Not a member? Sign Up