Which airline introduced the Boeing 747-400 into passenger service in 1989?

Northwest Airlines introduced the Boeing 747-400 into passenger service in 1989. The airline began operating the new variant on 9 February 1989, making it the launch operator for the passenger 747-400.

The 747-400 was a major upgrade over earlier 747 models. Its extended upper deck, winglets, improved engines, and two-person glass cockpit reduced operating costs and allowed the aircraft to fly longer routes with fewer crew members. The cockpit eliminated the need for a dedicated flight engineer.

Northwest had a long association with the 747 and used the aircraft extensively across its trans-Pacific network. Its first 747-400 service helped establish the type as the dominant long-haul jumbo jet of the 1990s and early 2000s.

The 747-400 should not be confused with the first passenger 747 service, which Pan Am operated using an earlier 747-100 in 1970. Nor was the 747-400 the final 747 variant; Boeing later developed the 747-8.