. Not A vs B but A350 vs 7E7

[humble_dor]

Is 7E7 too small or is A350 too large for this market segment ?

[POL.777]

How do you expect us ppruners to answers that question? None of them in production... And the A350 is just preliminary rumours at the moment.
:D
No offense mate

[minibus3]

What are the chances of Emirates eyeing the A350, as they have said the 7E7-8 is on the small side?

Regards

[Flip Flop Flyer]

Sorry chaps, but according to the Airbus/Boeing websites there's not much of a difference between them (note, Airbus doesn't list any data on the A350, so I've chosen those for the A332):

7E7-8: Cross section 5.74m
A332: Cross section 5.28m

7E7-8: Length 59m
A332: Length 57m

Boeing states 217 seats for the -8, I haven't seen what Airbus promises but their data from the -200 seems to indicate around 250 seats. However, if the stats from Boeing are for an aircraft kitted out for ULR and the -200 'just' for LR, then that might explain the difference. Remember, SQ only have around 180 seats in their A345s doing the ULR services to the states.

In other words, for all intents and purposes they're roughly the same size.

But, as POL says, at this point in time both are but paper aeroplanes - the A350 to a slightly larger extent than the 7E7. Paper is a very useful tool; one can prove almost anything on paper. Let's see them build, and flown, and then pass judgement.

[crazypilot]

FFF is correct - both aircraft are very similar in all respects - range, capacity, size. Currently, the A350 is the heavier of the two, due to the completely new design of the 7E7 (787) and large amount of composite in the structure versus the beefed-up A330 which the A350 is. However, whilst the A350 weighs more at the moment, it's range is comparable/slightly better than the equivalent 7E7 so good for airlines - bigger MTOW-more flexibility.

Neither are too small or too large for the market segment -- will fit in nicely in the A330/767 arena and bottom end of the A340 (-300) market which will probably see the 343 go out of production completely.

EK taking the A350 - good possibility of that. It fits the network nicely to comliment the bigger boys and replacing the A330s is now on the cards. However, talks regarding the smallest aircraft in the fleet being the 777 is still being regarded however, so taking neither may still be something that happens.

[TwinAisle]

... and I'll say it again.

The 7E7 will be a better aircraft than the A350. On certain routes.

The A350 will be a better aircraft than the 7E7. On certain routes.

Which an airline chooses will depend on its needs for its route network. An order for the 7E7 should be celebrated, not because it is "one in the eye" for Airbus, but because it is a good product that hopefully will make its owners loads of money and be rewarding to operate for the crews, and popular with the punters. The same is true the other way around!

The bottom line is this - saying "A350 vs 7E7" is only remotely a sensible question if you tell us what load, what timetable, what route etc etc.

Then we can come to a sensible decision - as the potential customers will.

TA