The stretched aircraft, initially called the 747 Advanced was officially launched as the 747-8 on November 14, 2005, with the designation reflecting its technological ties to the 787 Dreamliner.

The Freighter version, with a shorter upper deck, can haul 308,000 pounds (140 t) over 4,120 nautical miles [nmi] (7,630 km; 4,740 mi).

The 747-8 was intended to use the same engine and cockpit technology as that of the 787, including the General Electric GEnx turbofan and fly-by-wire ailerons and spoilers.

[12] The 747-8, as a new development of Boeing's largest airliner, is notably in direct competition on long-haul routes with the Airbus A380, a full-length double-deck aircraft introduced in 2007.

[22][23][24] In response, launch customer Cargolux stated it still intended to take delivery of the thirteen freighters it had ordered; Lufthansa confirmed its commitment to the passenger version.

[42] During the flight tests, Boeing discovered a buffet problem with the aircraft, involving turbulence coming off the landing gear doors interfering with the inboard flaps.

Boeing said that the issue would not affect flight testing, but other sources stated that the problem could impact the operating envelope of the aircraft until it was fully repaired.

[48] It was announced on June 14, 2010, that the 747-8 had completed the initial phase of flight-worthiness testing and that the Federal Aviation Administration had given Boeing an expanded type-inspection authorization for the aircraft.

[49] By the end of June 2010, the three 747-8Fs that composed the flight-test program had flown a total of over 500 hours and had completed hot-weather testing in Arizona.

[64] On October 25, 2011, a 747-8 flew to Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados to begin flight testing in the tropical climate of the Caribbean, to determine its effects on the aircraft.

[68] The aircraft noise from the 747-8 has earned it a Quota Count of 2 for takeoff and 1 for landing at London's three major airports, a significant improvement over the 747-400.

[87] On June 25, 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that the order backlog was down to 32 and Boeing had decided to reduce production to one aircraft per month in 2016.

[88] In January 2016, Boeing confirmed that it was reducing 747-8 production to 0.5 per month beginning in September 2016, incurring a $569 million post-tax charge against its fourth-quarter 2015 profits.

At the same time, the company announced another after-tax charge of $814 million, reflecting a lower estimation of airframes to be produced and revenue realized.

[98][99] For operators that require high capacity on routes, such as Emirates Airlines, most have preferred the Airbus A380 as it is an all-new design, while the 747-8's lineage is 40 years old, although some have criticized the A380's looks and complimented the 747-8I's appearance.

[97] Analysts do not see bright prospects for very large aircraft—those with more than 400 seats—whose orders have slowed in the mid-2010s, since there are widebody twinjets with similar range and greater fuel efficiency, giving airlines more flexibility at a lower upfront cost.

[118][119] With a maximum take-off weight of 975,000 lb (442 t),[120] the 747-8 is the heaviest aircraft, commercial or military, manufactured in the U.S.[119] Compared to the preceding 747-400, the wing design was overhauled.

[120] Compared to the 747-400 and an intermediate 747 Advanced concept, the extra fuel capacity in the redesigned wing allowed Boeing to avoid adding costly new tanks to the horizontal tail.

Unlike the GEnx introduced on the 787, the 747 engine variant provides bleed air and features a smaller diameter to fit on the 747 wing.

[132] Initial plans were for a shorter stretch of 140 in (3.6 m), compared to 220 in (5.6 m) on the freighter model, but the two variants were eventually offered with the same length to increase passenger capacity, while decreasing range.

[139][140] British Airways supported this change, while Emirates was disappointed as only the shorter concept would have allowed them to fill all seats when flying long non-stop routes like Dubai to Los Angeles.

[143] During the initial 747-8 marketing phase, Boeing also proposed creating a revenue-generating "SkyLoft" passenger facility in the crown space above the cabin.

This facility would include "SkySuites", small individual compartments with sliding doors or curtains, featuring beds, seating, and entertainment or business equipment.

Passengers using the SkySuites, sold at a premium price, would sit in regular economy class seats for take-off and landing, and move to the crown area during flight.

[159] To meet FAA regulations, Boeing reported in January 2012 that the 747-8's fuel tanks in the horizontal stabilizers would be closed off to prevent their use until the flutter condition can be resolved;[159] this reduced range by 550–930 km (300–500 nmi; 340–580 mi).

"[167] On August 1, 2017, Defense One reported that to pay less for the replacement program, the U.S. Air Force purchased two undelivered 747-8Is ordered by a bankrupt Russian firm (Transaero); the aircraft had been stored in the Mojave Desert to prevent corrosion.

[169] In March 2020, modifications started at Boeing's San Antonio, Texas facility, including lower lobe doors and internal airstairs, to be delivered by December 2024.

[170] In April 2024, Sierra Nevada Corporation was awarded a contract to develop and build the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft to replace the Boeing E-4 NAOC.

[176][177] On September 10, 2021, it was announced that the Egyptian Government had acquired a 747-8I for use as a VIP transport aircraft; the airframe, which had originally been manufactured for Lufthansa as D-ABYE, had not been accepted by the airline and spent several years in storage in the Mojave Desert as N828BA before being re-registered as SU-EGY.

[178] Boeing 747-8 orders and deliveries (cumulative, by year): On September 11, 2012, an AirBridgeCargo 747-8F experienced a major engine malfunction that spread a significant amount of metallic debris on the runway.