Fourgolds - at last found time to answer.
With the same 5,000NM sector, comparing the A330-200 and Boeing 777-300ER; the A332 with 293 seats and 773 with 451 seats. Flight crew costs similar, but the 777 cabin crew trip cost is $3500 higher because many more hosties are on board. Trip fuel is $21,000 more for the 773 (at $US 3.60 per US gal).
Cash DOC per seat NM is interesting. The A330-200 and B777-200ER are close (US$0.060 and $0.057 respectively) and the 777-300ER and A330-300 are the same at US$0.049.
When lease costs are added in, it becomes:
A330-200 and B777-200ER are close (US$0.082 and $0.078 per seat NM respectively) and the 777-300ER and A330-300 are close (US$0.067 and $0.069 respectively). Which means that with the A330-300, you get the cheap economics of the big 451 seat 777 but in a handy size and more flexible 335 seater.
Like all these comparisons, it depends on the input data. A good purchase deal will alter the economics – I used the same discount off aircraft list price for all aircraft. And actual internal seat configuration will change the seat-mile cost.
Boy the fuel is a killer today!!! At $3.60 per US gal, the fuel component of the cash DOCs ranges from 68-73%. OK, that doesn’t include any airline ground costs, marketing costs, or lease costs, but it is still scary. At the old price of $1 per US gal, which was the price when these sorts of planes were being bought, the fuel component of the cash DOCs ranged from 37-42%.
BRE
I’m not sure why the efficiency difference with the 777. My guesses from the economics viewpoint are that the weight difference has to be one factor – it weighs a lot more than the same capacity Airbus. The 777 has bigger engines that burn a lot more fuel than the equivalent Airbus. And the 777 costs more. But I’m sure there is a lot more to it than that, and there are others more able to comment.