Airbus A320: Popular Among Airlines and Facing Competition from Boeing and Others

The Airbus A320 has achieved remarkable popularity and widespread adoption among airlines around the world. Its versatility, fuel efficiency, and passenger appeal have made it a preferred choice for both full-service carriers and low-cost airlines.

The Airbus A320 is one of the most popular and widely used commercial aircraft in the world. As of October 2023, there were 9,666 Airbus A320 family aircraft in operation, including variants such as the A318, A319, A320, A320neo, A321, and A321neo​​. American Airlines is the largest operator of the A320 family, with 469 aircraft in its fleet​.

The Airbus A320 family initially competed in the 1980s with the Boeing 737 Classic series (737-300/-400/-500) and the McDonnell Douglas MD-80/90 series. Over the years, it has faced challenges from the Boeing 737 Next Generation (737-600/-700/-800/-900) and the Boeing 717. In recent years, competition has also come from Embraer’s E-195 (comparable to the A318) and the CSeries (now Airbus A220) developed by Bombardier, which targets the A318/A319 market segment​.

For context as of October 2023, Boeing, Airbus’s main competitor, had shipped 10,438 737-series aircraft since late 1967​. This comparison highlights the intense competition between the Airbus A320 family and Boeing’s 737 series in the single-aisle commercial airliner market.

Orders and deliveries
The A320 family, which includes the A318, A319, A320, and A321 variants, has consistently been one of the best-selling aircraft families in the world. In October 2019, ultimately, the A320 family surpassed the Boeing 737 to become the highest-selling airliner with a total order of 15,193 and respectively 15,136 aircraft at the end of the month.

As of October 30, 2023:

• A320 family orders: 8,120, delivered: 8,100
• A320neo family orders: 9,787, delivered: 3,034
• A320 total: orders: 17,907, delivered: 11,134
  &
• 737 Original, Classic, NG and BBJ family (737-100 to -900) orders: 10,256, delivered: 10,438
• 737 Max family orders: 5,903, delivered: 1,131
• 737 total: orders 16,159, delivered: 11,569

Operators: Full-service airlines
Many full-service airlines have incorporated the A320 into their fleets, recognizing the benefits of its efficiency, range and passenger comfort. Some prominent full-service carriers operating the A320 family include:

• Lufthansa, the largest airline in Germany, operates a substantial number of A320 family aircraft for both domestic and international routes.
• British Airways, the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, has a significant fleet of A320 family aircraft serving destinations across Europe and beyond.
• Air France, the national carrier of France, utilizes the A320 family extensively in its short- and medium-haul operations within Europe.
• American Airlines is the largest A320 operator in the world which has 469 aircraft in its fleet.

Low-cost airlines
The A320’s fuel efficiency and operating economics have made it particularly popular among low-cost carriers, enabling them to offer affordable fares and maintain profitability. Notable low-cost airlines operating the A320 family include:

• EasyJet, a leading low-cost carrier in Europe, operates an all-Airbus fleet, with the majority of its aircraft being A320 family members.
• IndiGo, a prominent low-cost carrier in India, has experienced rapid growth with its all-Airbus fleet, predominantly comprising A320neo aircraft.
• JetBlue Airways, a low-cost carrier in the United States, relies heavily on the A320 family for its operations, offering domestic and international flights.

While the Boeing 737 family is renowned for its robust performance and reliability, the A320 family excels in terms of passenger capacity, fuel efficiency, and advanced technologies. Ultimately, the choice between the two aircraft families depends on an airline’s specific requirements, routes, and operational preferences.

Comparison the Airbus A320 with other popular jets
Comparing the Airbus A320 with other popular jets allows us to gain insights into the unique features and capabilities of each aircraft. The A320 and the Boeing 737, being larger aircraft, provide more cabin space and amenities compared to the Embraer E-Jets. However, the E-Jets offer a competitive advantage in terms of passenger comfort, with features like wider seats, larger windows and reduced noise levels.

Boeing 737
The Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 are two of the most popular narrow-body aircraft in the world, frequently competing in the same market segment. Some key points of comparison are:

• Size and capacity: the A320 and the Boeing 737 have similar seating capacities, typically ranging from 150 to 180 passengers, depending on the specific model and configuration. Both aircraft offer flexibility in seating arrangements to cater to different airline requirements.
• Range: in terms of range, the A320 and the Boeing 737 also have similar capabilities. However, it’s important to note that specific models within each aircraft family may have variations in range performance.
• Cockpit and fly-by-wire: the A320 was the first commercial aircraft to incorporate fly-by-wire technology, offering precise control and reduced pilot workload. The Boeing 737, on the other hand, has a traditional mechanical flight control system. The cockpit layouts and avionics differ between the two aircraft, which may impact pilot transition and training requirements for operators.
• Engine options: both Airbus and Boeing offer different engine options for their respective aircraft. The A320neo series features engines from Pratt & Whitney and CFM International, while the Boeing 737 MAX series incorporates engines from CFM International only.

Airbus A220
The Airbus A220, developed by the Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (ACLP), originally began as the Bombardier CSeries. The A220 program was launched on July 13, 2008.

The smaller variant, the A220-100 (formerly CS100), made its first flight on September 16, 2013, received certification from Transport Canada on December 18, 2015, and entered service with Swiss Global Air Lines on July 15, 2016. The larger A220-300 (formerly CS300) first flew on February 27, 2015, was certified on July 11, 2016, and commenced service with airBaltic on December 14, 2016.

The A220’s combination of fuel efficiency, versatile seating capacity, and extended range makes it a competitive option in the narrow-body airliner market, catering to airlines’ needs for operational flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Some key points of comparison are:

• Fuel Efficiency: The Airbus A220 boasts significant fuel efficiency, delivering 25% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. This efficiency is partly due to its advanced aerodynamics and the use of Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G geared turbofan engines, which are also used in the A320neo. The A220’s fuel efficiency is advertised at an impressive 120 miles per gallon (MPG), offering substantial operational savings and environmental benefits, such as reduced emissions and a smaller noise footprint.
• Seating Capacity: The A220 comes in two main variants, differentiated by their size and seating capacity. The A220-100, measuring 35 meters (115 feet) in length, can accommodate between 108 to 133 passengers. The larger A220-300, which is 38.7 meters (127 feet) long, has a seating capacity ranging from 130 to 160 passengers. There’s also a business jet version of the A220-100, known as the ACJ TwoTwenty, which was launched in late 2020​.
• Range Capabilities: With its state-of-the-art design and technology, the A220 has a range of up to 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 kilometers). This extended range, coupled with its fuel efficiency, makes the A220 a suitable choice for various route lengths, including medium to long-haul flights. The range capabilities of the A220 are powered by two Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines, which are specifically tailored for this aircraft family​.

The operational efficiency of the two jets can be comparable, while, on the passenger experience side, the A220 appears to be the winner. When it comes to orders, the A320neo is the clear winner, but as we already noted, the advantage comes from the path blazed by its predecessor, the A320-200.

Embraer E-Jets
While the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 dominate the narrow-body market, the Embraer E-Jets represent a notable competitor in the regional jet segment. Some key points of comparison are:

• Size and capacity: the Embraer E-Jets, including the E170, E175, E190, and E195, have smaller seating capacities compared to the A320 and the Boeing 737. The E-Jets typically accommodate between 70 and 130 passengers, depending on the model and configuration. This makes them well suited for regional and short-haul operations.
• Range: the A320 and the Boeing 737 have a longer range than the Embraer E-Jets. While the E-Jets are designed for shorter flights, they provide efficient connectivity for regional markets.
• Fuel efficiency: Embraer E-Jets are known for their fuel efficiency, offering cost-effective operations for regional airlines. However, it’s important to note that the A320neo and the Boeing 737 MAX series also incorporate fuel-saving technologies and compete in terms of fuel efficiency.

The competition between Airbus and Boeing has long been viewed as a duopoly in the large jet airliner market since the 1990s. This rivalry intensified following several mergers within the aerospace industry. Airbus originated as a pan-European consortium, while Boeing, an American corporation, merged with its former competitor, McDonnell Douglas, in 1997. Other manufacturers like Lockheed Martin and Convair in the United States, along with British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) and Fokker in Europe, found themselves unable to compete, eventually withdrawing from this market segment.

From 2007 to 2016, Airbus received 9,985 orders and delivered 5,644 aircraft, compared to Boeing’s 8,978 orders and 5,718 deliveries. Throughout this period, both companies frequently alleged that the other received unfair state aid from their respective governments.

In 2019, Airbus overtook Boeing as the largest aerospace company by revenue, largely due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max. Airbus generated revenues of US$78.9 billion compared to Boeing’s US$76 billion. During this period, Boeing experienced a downturn from $12 billion in profits to a $2 billion operating loss, while Airbus saw profits decrease from $6 billion to $1.5 billion.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airbus.com, boeing.com, Embraer, simpleflying.com