747-300
The differences between the -300 and the -200 include a lengthened upper deck with two new emergency exit doors and an optional flight-crew rest area immediately aft of the flight deck. Compared to the -200, the upper deck is 23 feet 4 inches longer (7.11 m) than the -200.[126] A new straight stairway to the upper deck instead of a spiral staircase is another difference between the -300 and earlier variants.[67] The staircase creates room below and above for more seats. With minor aerodynamic changes, Boeing increased the cruise speed of the -300 to Mach 0.85 from Mach 0.84 on the -100/-200.[126] The -300 features the same takeoff weight. Two of the three engine choices from the -200 were unchanged in the -300, but the General Electric CF6-80C2B1 was offered instead of the CF6-50E2 offered on the -200.[67]
The 747-300 name, which was proposed for a variant that was never launched, was revived for this new version, which was introduced in 1980. Swissair ordered the first 747-300 on 11 June 1980.[127] The 747-300 first flew on 5 October 1982. Swissair was the first customer to accept delivery on 23 March 1983.[31]
In addition to the passenger version, other versions were available. The 747-300M has cargo capacity in the rear portion of the main deck similar to the -200M, but with the stretched upper deck it can carry more passengers.[128] The 747-300SR is a short range version to meet the need for a high-capacity domestic model. Japan Airlines operated such aircraft with more than 600 seats on the Okinawa–Tokyo route and elsewhere. Boeing never launched a newly built freighter version of the 747-300, but it modified used passenger -300 models into freighters starting in 2000.[129]
A total of 81 aircraft were ordered, 56 for passenger use, 21 -300M and 4 -300SR versions.[130] The 747-300 was soon superseded by the launch of the more advanced 747-400 in 1985, just two years after the -300 entered service.[131] The last 747-300 was delivered in September 1990 to Sabena.[67][132]
Today, most -300 aircraft are still active, despite a significant loss of interest in the series amongst large carriers who have since sold them to other smaller airlines. A few of these aircraft have surpisingly been converted to cargo operations, though none of any -300s have been delivered new as freighters. Carriers still using these aircraft include Japan Airlines, Qantas, Pakistan International Airlines, Air India and Saudi Arabian Airlines.