The oldest plane still in use depends on the category, but for commercial passenger planes, it's a Boeing 737-200 (C-GNLK) operated by Nolinor Aviation, nearing 50 years old, while the oldest overall airworthy aircraft is a 1909 Blériot XI, G-AANG, maintained by the Shuttleworth Collection. For military/specialized use, the Indian Air Force flies Boeing 737-200s from the 1970s, and DC-3s (Dakotas) also remain in service globally, often for cargo or specific regional routes.
Airworthy aircraft
14 – Bleriot XI airworthy at the Shuttleworth Collection in Old Warden, Bedfordshire. Built in 1909 and now with the British civil registration G-AANG, this is the world's oldest airworthy aircraft.
The C-130 Hercules first flew in 1954 so the B-52 is older and still flying. But so is the Herk and they are still building new ones today.
KLM is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name.
The age of the global fleet of 737-800 planes ranges from about 5 years old to more than 27 years old. A well-maintained passenger jet can fly 20 to 30 years or even longer. According to the flight tracking website Flightradar24, the plane that crashed was 15 years old.
The Boeing 737-800, a member of the Next Generation series, has long been celebrated as one of the world's safest commercial aircraft. Yet recent events have cast shadows over this reputation. In February 2022, a China Eastern Airlines flight tragically crashed in southern China, claiming all 132 lives on board.
An aircraft's age is based on when it was built. Here are the approximate ages for an aircraft: Old aircraft = 20+ years. Standard aircraft = 10-20 years.
Hawaiian Airlines – Founded in 1929, never had a fatal accident. EVA Air (Taiwan) – No hull-loss or passenger fatalities since inception in 1989. Virgin Australia & Virgin Atlantic – Both have zero fatal crashes in their histories.
American Airlines launched its 100th anniversary celebrations yesterday with the unveiling of a new commemorative aircraft livery, marking the start of a year-long tribute to its history.
According to the AirAdvisor Airline Safety Score, Allegiant, American, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit Airlines are all the safest. Each had a perfect accident record in 2023 and 2024 with no reported incidents based on data from IATA.
In the next two decades, the B-1 and B-2 will be retired and replaced by the B-21 Raider. But the B-52—which can carry the broadest range of conventional and nuclear bombs and missiles—is slated to remain in service past 2050.
An airplane is generally considered “old” when it's been in service for 20, 30, or even 50+ years.
The AC-130 gunship gained the nickname “Angel of Death” for its haunting battlefield presence. As it fires its side-mounted cannons and howitzers, the aircraft flies in wide circles around its target, casting glowing arcs of smoke through the night sky.
Aircraft age is not a safety factor. However, if the aircraft is older and hasn't been refurbished properly, it may cause flyers some inconvenience such as overheating, faulty air conditioning, or faulty plumbing in the lavatory.
The Boeing 777 isn't considered "old" as a model, having first flown in 1994, but specific early-production aircraft from the mid-90s are still flying for some airlines, making them among the older widebody jets in service, though reliability keeps them airborne, notes Simple Flying, Britannica, and Simple Flying. These "Triple Sevens" were revolutionary when introduced, featuring CAD design and massive twin engines, and newer variants like the 777X are still in development to keep the family modern, say Simple Flying and Britannica.
Yes, the Boeing 707 is still in service, but not for commercial passenger flights; its remaining airworthy examples, around 79, operate in military and government roles, primarily as tankers (KC-135), surveillance (E-3 Sentry, E-6 Mercury), and VIP transports, with the last commercial passenger flight ending in 2013. Its robust airframe and adaptability allow it to serve in these specialized, mission-critical capacities, though replacements are gradually being introduced.
The Boeing 757 is special for its unmatched versatility, powerful performance as a "sports car" narrowbody, and unique ability to handle challenging airports (short runways, high altitudes) while also flying long-haul routes, making it a favorite among pilots for its excellent handling, robust design, and ability to fill a market gap between smaller jets and larger widebodies, notes Wikipedia, YouTube, Simple Flying. Its blend of powerful engines, advanced wing design (supercritical wing), and robust build gave it exceptional short-field takeoff performance and payload capacity, unmatched by competitors, while its glass cockpit modernized operations, explains Wikipedia, YouTube, Simple Flying.
Using data from ch-aviation, this aircraft, registered as EP-MEE, took its first flight on August 31st, 1990, and entered commercial service 19 days later, meaning that it will be reaching 35 years of age in 2025. This makes it the oldest passenger Boeing 747 in the skies today.
🌍 One of the most iconic names in aviation history is preparing for takeoff once more — Pan Am is coming back! Backed by Avi8 Air Capital and Pan American Global Holdings, the legendary airline has officially entered the FAA's Part 121 certification process, a key step before launching commercial flights.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Airlines
On 3 August 2016, the aircraft, carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew, crashed while landing at Dubai International Airport.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian has been flying planes since 1929 and never once had a fatal accident, making it, if our stats stand up, the longest functioning carrier to have never lost a passenger. It may have suffered two bankruptcies (1993 and 2003) but it has not compromised on safety.
Freighter variants of the 747 remain popular with cargo airlines. The final 747 was delivered to Atlas Air in January 2023 after a 54-year production run, with 1,574 aircraft built. As of October 2025, 65 Boeing 747s (4.1%) have been lost in accidents and incidents, in which a total of 3,746 people have died.
Since commercial flights are pressurized to 6000-8000 ft, older adults with stable cardiovascular disease should be able to fly without risk.
The inner pane basically safeguards the load from the passengers during flight. When both the outer and middle panes break, then all the pressurization in the airplane would escape leading to decompression in the passenger cabin. A plane is pressurized for passengers' comfort as it climbs to a higher altitude.