The Airbus A350 is a leading widebody aircraft in the aviation industry. Alongside the 787 from Boeing, these jets have played a pivotal role in changing how airlines complete scheduled long-haul passenger services.

The primary rival of the Airbus A350 is the Boeing 777 family, specifically the 777-300ER and the newer 777X. While the original 777 was the first fly-by-wire aircraft designed entirely by computer, the rivalry intensified with the A350-1000, which was built to directly challenge the 777-300ER's dominance in the long-haul market. The A350 focuses on extreme fuel efficiency and passenger comfort through composite materials, while the Boeing 777 is prized for its massive "heavy-lift" payload capacity and powerful GE90 engines. In 2026, the battle has shifted to the Boeing 777X, which features massive folding wingtips to fit into standard airport gates while maintaining a larger wingspan for efficiency. Airbus counters this with the A350-1000's lighter weight and lower operating costs. Airlines often choose between them based on whether they prioritize raw capacity (advantage Boeing) or the lowest possible trip cost and modern cabin tech (advantage Airbus), making this the most high-stakes competition in the wide-body aviation sector.