Airbus vs. Boeing: Who's winning the "war"?

Question

I'm from Manila. According to the flights to/from Manila, most airlines prefer using the A320s to the B737s on short haul flights, say Manila to Beijing. While on long haul routes, say Manila to Dubai, they prefer using the 747s, 767s, & 777s (I think they use the ERs here). That being said, do you think that when it comes to short routes the A320s fair better against the B737s (i.e., travel time is under 4 hours)? Do you also think most airlines prefer using the B747s, 767s, & 777s than the A330s & A340s on long haul routes (travel time of more than 6 hours)?

According to the flight schedules here, the A320s far outnumber B737s on short routes while B747s & B777s slightly outnumber the A340s & A330s when it comes to destinations such as Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, & Vancouver? What do you think?

Short flights=A320s>B737s

Long flights=B747/767s/777s>A330s/A340s

Airbus vs. Boeing: I wonder who's winning?

Answer 1

I fly an A320...mostly on 4 hour flight. When I fly it I love it as opposed to the B737...it is much better for short flights. On long flights however you are correct...I would use the Boeings

Answer 2

Without giving a lot of sensitive details I would say Boeing has the advantage right now.  They have the right plane at the right time.  The B787 (Dreamliner) is fuel efficient which is what the airlines want and need.  Airbus's answer (A350) is still bouncing around in the early stages so Boeing has a significant head start.

That being said neither airframer will go out of business.

Answer 3

airbus is like the tower of babel.  they'll have to learn to get along if they want to survive, much less "win".

a little off the point, but I find it amusing that Airbus' fuselages are ferried from plant to plant on a Boeing.

Answer 4

The dollar exchange rate has to be taken into account when companies buy aircraft.

Answer 5

Boeing will always win in a fair fight.

Answer 6

Boeing is winning.

I think they manufacture the better looking aircraft and Boeing are the dominating company in the aerospace industry with the largest market share.

Answer 7

The thing is that the lead keeps changing. It was boeing but when the A380 came out that put airbus in the lead but boeing is sure to bounce back.

Answer 8

Right now, the OPEC oil ministers are winning.

Their bubble will burst when the air transport and automotive industries decline to a certain level.  That could take 4-8 years.  At that point OPEC will restructure, and Boeing and Airbus will continue to have a balanced share of the market.

The cycle is very stable and will continue indefinitely.  Boeing builds a great airplane, gets it on the market, and gets a fleet of them in the air.  Airbus sits back and watches, and sends their people to ride on the new Boeing and observe any shortcomings in the design.  Then Airbus markets an airplane that is specifically designed to overcome any shortcomings of the comparable Boeing that people are talking about.

Thus, for example, the A340 was designed to overcome the little quirks of the B747-100 through 300.  The B747-400 was designed to outshine the A340s, and it does.  So then comes the A340-600, designed to be "better" in market terms than the 747-400.

And so on forever.  One company or the other will always be a step ahead of the other on a certain day.  But neither will ever "squash" the other.

Answer 9

Philippines Air Lines has recently purchased several airbus aircraft and I have flown on them.  They appear to be better and more comfortable than the Boeing aircraft.

My vote is for Airbus!