AEROPLANE geeks love the Boeing 747 for its iconic style. Nothing brings to mind the golden age of mass jet-setting quite like the “Queen of the Skies”, with its four giant engines and familiar bumpy profile. Airlines, though, are less keen. They now prefer twin-engined jets, which can fly farther and use much less fuel. In 2014, Boeing did not sell a single jumbo. Last year, just 18 rolled off its production line in Everett, Washington state. That was still too many. So the firm planned to reduce its output to just one every other month, ahead of what seemed an inevitable coup de grace. The Queen may have secured a stay of execution, however. Reports suggest that Boeing is close to securing a deal for ten jumbos, worth $4 billion, with AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Russia’s largest air-freight firm. According to Bloomberg:

The deal would provide a crucial lifeline for the “Queen of the Skies” as Boeing tries to preserve production until the air-cargo market revives or shipping companies start to replace aging wide-body fleets. The 747 freighter, prized for a hinged nose that allows large cargo to be loaded at the front, is Boeing’s second-most expensive commercial jet, with a list price of $379.1 million. Buyers typically negotiate discounts.

Boeing has built over 1,500 of the planes since their inception in 1966 (the first commercial flights were by PanAm in 1970). Some 500 are still flying today. But even the big American carriers have abandoned the plane. Only Delta and United still operate 747s; most expect them to phase them out when they get the chance. Until today’s news, there was a danger that the president of the United States, who flies around in a pair of 747s, would remain the only loyal customer.

Still, even with the Russian reprieve, the 747’s days are probably numbered. Those airlines that are still keen on jumbos tend to prefer Airbus’s even bigger A380. Although it has also found the market difficult, its future looks more assured—particularly as the plane is popular with the growing Gulf “super-connectors”. Emirates, for example, has 79 A380s in its fleet, with a further 63 on order. In comparison, it flies just two 747s, both in its cargo division.

The 747 was once described as the “commuter train of the global village”, and many geeks will be sad when the last one is finally built. After all, no modern-day commercial plane quite has its aesthetic quality. Unfortunately for them, progress rarely cares about such bagatelles.