Narrow-body aircraft


A narrow-body aircraft or single-aisle aircraft is an airliner arranged along a single aisle, permitting up to 6-abreast seating in a cabin less than in width.
In contrast, a wide-body aircraft is a larger airliner usually configured with multiple aisles and a fuselage diameter of more than, allowing at least seven-abreast seating and often more travel classes.

Market

Historically, beginning in the late 1960s and continuing through the 1990s, twin engine narrow-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 Classic, McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 and Airbus A320 were primarily employed in short to medium-haul markets requiring neither the range nor the passenger-carrying capacity of that period's wide-body aircraft.
The re-engined Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo jets offer 500 miles more range, allowing them to operate the 3,000 miles transatlantic flights between the eastern U.S. and Western Europe, previously dominated by wide-body aircraft.
Norwegian Air Shuttle, JetBlue and TAP Portugal will open up direct routes bypassing airline hubs for lower fares between cheaper, smaller airports.
The Boeing 737NG 3,300-mile range is insufficient for fully laden operations and operates at reduced capacity like the Airbus A318, while the Airbus A321LR could replace the less fuel efficient Boeing 757s used since their production ended in 2004.
Boeing will face competition and pricing pressure from the Embraer E-Jet E2 family, Airbus A220 and Comac C919.
Between 2016 and 2035, FlightGlobal expects 26,860 single-aisles to be delivered for almost $ billion, 45% Airbus A320 family ceo and neo and 43% Boeing 737 NG and max.
By June 2018, there were 10,572 Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX orders: 6,068 Airbuses and 4,504 Boeings ; 3,446 in Asia-Pacific, 2,349 in Europe, 1,926 in North America, 912 in Latin America, 654 in Middle East, 72 in Africa and 1,213 not yet bounded.
Many airlines have shown interest in the Airbus A321LR or its A321XLR derivative, and other extended-range models, for thin transatlantic and Asia-Pacific routes.

Examples

Six-abreast cabin

TypeCountryProductionFuselage widthCabin widthMax. seatsEnginesseat
width
Hawker Siddeley TridentUK1962–19781803 turbofan-
Bristol BritanniaUK1952–19601394×turboprop-
Douglas DC-8US1958–19722694×turbojet/fan-
Ilyushin Il-62USSR/Russia1963–19951864×turbofan-
Vickers VC10UK1962–19701514×turbofan-
Boeing 707/Boeing 720US1958–19792194×turbojet/fan"
Boeing 737US1966–present2202×turbofan17"
Boeing 757US1981–20042952×turbofan"
Boeing 727US1963–19841893×turbofan"
Tupolev Tu-154USSR/Russia1968–20131803×turbofan-
Tupolev Tu-204Russia1990–present2152×turbofan-
Tupolev Tu-334Russia1999–20091022×turbofan-
Yakovlev Yak-42USSR/Russia1977–20031203×turbofan-
Dassault MercureFrance1971–19751622×turbofan-
Airbus A320 familyMulti1986–present2442×turbofan18"
Comac C919China2016–present1922×turbofan-
Yakovlev MC-21Russia2017–present2302×turbofan-
Tupolev Tu-114USSR1958–19632204×turboprop-

Five-abreast cabin

TypeCountryProductionFuselage widthCabin widthMax. seatsEnginesSeat
width
de Havilland CometUK1949–1964814×turbojet-
Douglas DC-4/DC-6/DC-7US1942–1958954×piston engine-
Sud Aviation CaravelleFrance1958–1972802×turbojet-
Vickers ViscountUK1948–1963754×turboprop-
Fokker F28/Fokker 70/Fokker 100Netherlands1967–19971222×turbofan-
Tupolev Tu-144USSR1963–19831404×turbojet-
McDonnell Douglas DC-9/MD-80/MD-90/Boeing 717US1965–2006334.3 cm cm 1722×turbofan17.9"
Antonov An-148/An-158Ukraine2002–present992×turbofan-
Comac ARJ21China2007–present1052×turbofan-
Boeing 377 StratocruiserUS1947–19631144×piston engine-
Tupolev Tu-104USSR1955–1960350 cm 320 cm 1152×turbojet-
Ilyushin Il-18USSR1957–19851204×turboprop-
BAC One-ElevenUK1963–19891192×turbofan-
Sukhoi Superjet 100Russia2007–present1082×turbofan-
Convair 880US1959–19621104×turbojet-
Convair 990US1961–19631494×turbofan-
Lockheed L-188 ElectraUS1957–1961984×turboprop-
Lockheed ConstellationUS1943–19581094×piston engine-
Airbus A220Canada/Multi2012–present1602×turbofan"
British Aerospace 146UK1987–20011124×turbofan-

Four-abreast cabin

Three-abreast cabin

Two-abreast cabin

Image gallery