Boeing’s 747 is one the most recognizable planes to take to the skies with its iconic hump, four engines, extensive landing gear and sheer size. Since its first commercial flight in 1970, Boeing’s 747 jumbo jet has flown more than 3.5 billion passengers. But over the last few decades, airlines have looked for more ways to cut costs and to make airplanes more efficient. Two engine jets can now fly near the same capacity and further than older four engine planes like Boeing’s 747 and the Airbus A380. CNBC visited Boeing's Everett, Washington factory to see the last 747 roll off the production line. It will go to Atlas Air for cargo deliveries.

波音的747是最具代表性的飞机之一,以其标志性的隆起、四个引擎、庞大的起落架和巨大的体积而闻名。自1970年首次商业飞行以来,波音747大型客机已经载运了超过35亿名乘客。但在过去几十年里,航空公司一直在寻求更多降低成本和提高飞机效率的方法。如今,双引擎飞机能够飞得与老旧的四引擎飞机(如波音747和空客A380)差不多的航程,并且具有更远的飞行距离。CNBC访问了波音位于华盛顿州埃弗雷特的工厂,亲眼见证了最后一架747从生产线上下线。这架飞机将交给Atlas Air用于货物运输。

Five years ago, 346 people were killed in two plane crashes that happened five months apart, in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Both were Boeing 737 Max 8 planes. Then, this past January, Boeing came inches from yet another catastrophe as a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 plane at 16,000 feet shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon. Preliminary reports said the door panel that flew off the Max 9 appeared to be missing four key bolts.

五年前,346人在两起发生在印度尼西亚和埃塞俄比亚的飞机坠毁事故中丧生,时间相隔五个月。两起事故的飞机均为波音737 Max 8。然后,在今年一月,波音差点再度遭遇灾难,一架阿拉斯加航空的737 Max 9飞机在从俄勒冈州波特兰起飞后不久,在16,000英尺的高空发生了门塞失事。初步报告显示,飞离737 Max 9的门板似乎缺少了四个关键的螺栓。

Boeing has struggled to get back on track after the fatal 737 Max 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019. The company announced it's in talks to buy back fuselage maker Spirit AeroSystems. A company Boeing spun off in 2005. Both companies have struggled with quality issues in recent years. Spirit AeroSystems, however, also supplies parts to Boeings main rival Airbus and other plane manufacturers making the deal a little complex.

波音在2018年和2019年737 Max 8的致命空难之后,一直在努力恢复正常。公司宣布正在谈判收购机身制造商Spirit AeroSystems,这是波音于2005年剥离的公司。近年来,双方公司都面临着质量问题。然而,Spirit AeroSystems还为波音的主要竞争对手空客和其他飞机制造商提供零件,这使得这笔交易变得有些复杂。