🇪🇺 Airbus350 vs 🇺🇸 Boeing777 ✈️ Widebody Battle

Since the 1990s, the Boeing 777 has been the flagship widebody aircraft for many long-haul carriers - valued for its range, size, and reliability. Airbus challenged this dominance with the introduction of the A350 in the mid-2010s, offering a lighter, more fuel-efficient alternative.

This comparison focuses on how these two aircraft families have evolved in production, operations, and fleet lifecycle ______..🛫 Let's go!

Foundations

So far the B777 series is manufactured more than double💫

Delivery Timeline

Number of aircraft delivered to aviations per year. You remember 9.11 and COVID-19?

Airbus prioritized the A380 (four engines mega-jumbo) in the early 2000s, allowing Boeing's 777 (two engines and yet compact) to dominate the long-haul market. The A350 was launched later to reclaim ground with modern design and efficiency.

Current Operational Status

Distribution of aircraft by status. Over 410 B777s are "Out of Service" or "Temporarily Out of Service" 🛑

Aircraft Age and Replacement Trends

Histogram of fleet age (aircraft currently in service or temporarily parked/stored). In the coming years, 100 or more B777 aircraft are expected to be retired annually.

Who Bought These Aircraft?

Boeing dominates the fleets of most U.S. carriers, while A350 adoption is stronger in Asia and Europe. Emirates stands out with the largest 777 fleet by far.

Regional Adoption Patterns

This map shows the number of aircraft adopted by each country, including those on order. Out of Service fleets are removed.

The A350 is widely used in North and West Europe and countries. Vietnam, Ethiopia, and China are using more A350. In contrast, countries like Saudi Arabia and Canada have adopted only the B777. Using a single aircraft type can simplify pilot training and operations.

Appendix

Data source: Planespotters B777, Planespotters A350

Data as of June 2025.