In January 1970, Pan American World Airways introduced the Boeing 747 into commercial service, inaugurating the era of wide-body, long-haul air travel. The 'Jumbo Jet' massively increased passenger capacity and reduced the cost of flying. This aircraft became a symbol of the democratization of international travel and revolutionized the global economy and culture.

The advent of mass air travel, embodied by the 747, made the world smaller and more interconnected, a theme that poets and writers of the late 20th century explored through ideas of globalization, rootlessness, and the 'global village.' It became a symbol of the modern world's compression of time and space, often appearing in poetry as a sign of contemporary life and the movement of peoples. The experience of flying became commonplace, altering the cultural perspective on flight.