Boeing 767-400

Distinctive Design Features

Because it arrived much later than the -200 and -300, the 767-400ER features significant design changes that make it visually and technically distinct from its older siblings.

1. The Final Fuselage Stretch (Length)

Visually, the most obvious characteristic is its extreme length. Boeing engineers added another 21-foot stretch to the already lengthened 767-300 fuselage.

This makes the 767-400ER a very long, slender-looking aircraft. It is roughly 42 feet longer than the original 767-200. To prevent the tail from scraping the runway during takeoff due to this extreme length, the -400ER features a retractable "tail skid" for protection.

2. Raked Wingtips (The primary giveaway)

The easiest way to spot a 767-400ER is by looking at the wingtips.

While many 767-300ERs were retrofitted with tall, vertical "blended winglets" after they were built, the 767-400ER features factory-installed raked wingtips. These are highly aerodynamic tips that sweep backwards and slightly upwards, similar to those found on the larger Boeing 777-300ER or the 787 Dreamliner. This wing design is unique to the -400ER variant within the 767 family.

3. The Hybrid Cockpit

Unlike the 767-200 and -300, which share identical cockpits with the Boeing 757, the 767-400ER cockpit was modernized.

It borrowed technology from the newer Boeing 777, replacing the older CRT screens with larger, clearer LCD flat-panel displays arranged in a format similar to the 777. Because of this change, pilots rated on the older 767s require additional "differences training" to fly the -400ER.

Capacity vs. Range

The 767-400ER was a trade-off. The massive stretch allowed it to carry significantly more passengers than the -300ER (around 300 in a typical two-class layout).

However, the extra weight of the fuselage and passengers meant that its maximum range was actually shorter than the 767-300ER. It was not designed for ultra-long-haul flights across the Pacific, but rather for heavy loads across the Atlantic or across the US continent.

Commercial Reality: A Niche Product

Despite being a capable aircraft, the 767-400ER was not a major commercial success. Only 38 aircraft were ever built.

It arrived too late in the market cycle and faced stiff competition from the Airbus A330-200, which offered better range and payload capability. Furthermore, airlines needing more range than the 767-300ER often simply upgraded to the larger Boeing 777.

Only two major airlines ever purchased the aircraft new: Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines (whose fleet was merged into United Airlines). These two airlines are the sole operators of the type today.