As airlines continue to phase out four-engine aircraft, it’s pretty clear that the future of long-haul aviation belongs to twin-engine aircraft. With that in mind, the two aircraft that are truly revolutionizing long-haul air travel are the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 (perhaps the Boeing 777X will eventually do the same, but it’s not certified yet).
What makes these aircraft so incredible is their low fuel consumption, long range, low operating costs and relatively small capacity (at least compared to aircraft like the Airbus A380 or Boeing 747), which is a great combination for airlines to maximize revenue.
This has made many routes economically viable that might not have been possible before, and has also made all sorts of new ultra-long-haul flights possible.
While both the A350 and 787 are a pleasure to fly, I have a preference for one of these aircraft and want to go into a little more detail about why in this post. I would also love to hear from OMAAT readers which aircraft you prefer.
Airbus A350 vs. Boeing 787: Which aircraft is better?
Personally, I prefer the Airbus A350 over the Boeing 787, so let me talk a little about why. I’m approaching this mostly from a passenger experience and avgeek perspective, but will also talk a little about the capabilities of the aircraft. Of course, I’m not approaching this from a technical or financial perspective as far as which aircraft airlines should use to renew their fleet.
Before I get into the differences, I want to talk about a few key things I like about the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787, which are roughly comparable:
- Both jets are very quiet, which can make a big difference in terms of comfort; Airbus claims the A350 is five decibels quieter than the 787, but honestly I can’t say I notice much of a difference.
- In both aircraft, the cabin pressure is much lower than other jets, meaning the air is generally not as dry. Apparently, the A350 has a cabin pressure equivalent to an altitude of 5,500 feet, while the 787 has a cabin pressure equivalent to an altitude of 6,000 feet.
As you can see, the differences are very small and I think the most important thing to note is that the two jets excel in both areas.
Why I prefer the Airbus A350
The Airbus A350 is, in my opinion, superior to the Boeing 787. While the differences may be small to the average consumer, these are things that stand out to me as an avgeek.
For one thing, the A350 allows airlines to install an optional tail camera, which is common practice among A350 operators, while you won’t find one on any 787 operator. Tail cameras are literally my favorite in-flight entertainment feature on any airline, period.
Plus, I think the A350 is such a sexy airplane, even sexier than the 787. I love the ‘raccoon’ mask and the blended wingtips… swooning.
Although the 787 has huge windows, I’m not a fan of the dimming technology they use instead of traditional blinds. Instead, the windows simply dim at the touch of a button. This sounds great in theory, but in practice these dimmers don’t block light particularly well, especially when the sun is on your side of the plane. I also don’t like it when the crew overrides this system and chooses the blinds setting for everyone.
Previously, A350 aircraft were fitted with the standard window shades that could be lowered and raised. Personally, I prefer this. However, the latest A350 aircraft, known as the “new production standard”, have the option of dimmable window shades. I find these to be of higher quality than the equivalent models on the 787 and they also block out light better.
The A350’s cabin is also slightly wider than the 787, particularly the aircraft’s “new production standard.” Although the difference is slight, it can be felt in economy class, where every fraction of an inch counts.
While both aircraft have nine seats per row in economy class as standard, a few operators have eight seats per row on the 787 and ten seats per row on the A350.
And last but not least, you just have to respect what an incredible aircraft the A350-1000 is in terms of its capabilities. It has a higher capacity than any other version of the 787 and also has the potential to have the longest range. Qantas is using the A350-1000 (with extra fuel tanks) for its flights on Project Sunrise, which will connect Sydney and Melbourne with New York and London, with flights lasting over 20 hours in some cases.
Where I see advantages for the Boeing 787
On balance, there are also some areas where the Boeing 787 is superior to the Airbus A350. However, I must admit that Boeing has a wider product range, as there are three Dreamliner variants – the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10. Airbus, on the other hand, has only two variants – the A350-900 and the A350-1000.
The 787-8 is unique in that it offers relatively low capacity but incredibly long range, and Airbus has no direct competitor to it. In terms of size, the 787-8 is most comparable to the A330-900neo, except that that jet doesn’t have the range of the 787.
Another potential advantage of the 787 over the A350 is that the former does not have a bleed air system, while the latter does. The engine bleed air system is standard on most aircraft and essentially means that air in the cabin is vented through the engines. From a passenger experience perspective, this means that you are more likely to deal with fumes (like during de-icing) on the A350.
Conclusion
Both the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 are revolutionary in that they make new routes economically viable. With airlines retiring ever larger aircraft, it is becoming increasingly clear that these wide-body jets are the future of long-haul travel.
Although I always enjoy flying on the A350 or the 787, I prefer the A350. As an avgeek, I love the aircraft’s rear camera, design, better windows and more comfortable cabin. But as I said, both aircraft are great…
Do you prefer the Airbus A350 or the Boeing 787?
