The Boeing 727-200 first flew on July 27, 1967. The 727 family was conceived as a low-altitude, high-speed aircraft for short and medium range routes, and designed to perform well at smaller airports. Following on from the 727-100, the -200 featured a stretched fuselage, higher capacity and better performance. Whilst it’s rare to see a 727 in the air these days, there are still some rare flying examples operating in unique roles. Let’s take a look at the background and outlook for the iconic Boeing trijet.

Who operated the most Boeing 727-200s?

The 727-200 received significant orders from most of the large US carriers of the day, as well as a range of scheduled and charter carriers in Europe. The Boeing 727 also made its name as the first commercial jet to sell over 1,000 units. These were the largest US operators.

• American Airlines (AA) was one of the largest operators of the Boeing 727-200. At its peak, American Airlines over 100 727-200s which formed a mainstay of domestic and international routes.

• Delta Air Lines (DL) also had a substantial fleet. They operated around 120 aircraft on domestic and international flights during the 1970s and 1980s .

• United Airlines (UA) had around 90 727-200s in service.

• Eastern Air Lines was one of the launch customers of the Boeing 727, and around 75 200-series aircraft.

• Northwest Airlines (now part of Delta) operated around 60 Boeing 727-200s, connecting various cities across North America and beyond.

• Braniff International Airways was a colorful airline with around 57 727-200s in service. The airline utilized these aircraft for their extensive domestic and international network.

Fun fact – an iconic brand of the time, Braniff is one the few defunct heritage airlines that still controls its own intellectual property.

A pop culture and aviation icon

In addition to being a huge commercial success for Boeing, the 727’s design made it one of the most iconic images of the jet age. The aircraft’s distinctive trijet design made its way into pop culture and music, perhaps most famously as the star of the Beastie Boys’ 1986 ‘Licensed to Ill’ album cover (this design also inspired the cover of the 2018 album ‘Kamikaze’ by Eminem).

Indeed, the trijet itself could be seen as an image of the 1970s and 80s, with the configuration seeing a sharp decline in the following decades as ETOPS regulations enabled the widespread use of more efficient twin-engined airliners.

The 727 has even cemented an infamous place in the world of true crime. A hijacker known as D.B. Cooper orchestrated an audacious heist on board a Northwest Orient 727 in 1971, extorting thousands of dollars in cash from the airline before parachuting to an unknown fate via the 727’s dorsal air stairs. Following the Cooper incident, 727s were fitted with a lock that kept the rear stairs from opening while the aircraft was in flight.

More recently in 2003, a barely serviceable Boeing 727-200 registered N844AA was apparently stolen from Luanda Airport (LAD/FNLU) in Angola. The aircraft was seen to taxi and take off erratically before disappearing into the night, never to be seen again. 

What is the Boeing 727 used for today?

Despite once being one of the most common passenger jets in North America, the few remaining 727 aircraft are mostly active in Europe and South America, but what are they up to these days?

1. Hauling cargo

It’s no secret that older generation aircraft often find a new lease of life as converted freighters, and the 727 is no exception. Despite this, 727 freighters are pretty rare, and most commonly seen in South America.