Which is bigger Airbus A321 or Boeing 787?

The A321 is considered a narrowbody aircraft, meaning that the 12-foot-wide cabin is only wide enough for a single aisle. It is also somewhat smaller than the 787 with a length of 144 feet and a wingspan of 118 feet.



The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is significantly bigger than the Airbus A321. The A321 is a "narrow-body" (single-aisle) aircraft designed for short-to-medium-haul flights, typically carrying 180 to 240 passengers. In contrast, the Boeing 787 is a "wide-body" (twin-aisle) aircraft designed for long-haul international travel, carrying between 240 and 330+ passengers depending on the variant (787-8, -9, or -10). To put the scale in perspective, the wingspan of a Boeing 787 is approximately 197 feet, whereas the A321’s wingspan is only about 117 feet. Furthermore, the 787 is powered by massive engines designed to cross oceans, while the A321—even in its "XLR" (Extra Long Range) variant—is still fundamentally a smaller airframe optimized for efficiency on thinner routes. In 2026, while the A321XLR is "blurring the lines" by flying some transoceanic routes, it remains a "junior" aircraft in terms of physical dimensions, weight, and total passenger capacity compared to the 787 "heavy" jet.

People Also Ask

This stretched-fuselage aircraft has an overall length of 44.51 metres, providing ample room to comfortably accommodate between 170 and 200 travellers – or up to 220 in a high-density layout.

MORE DETAILS

The Bottom Line: The Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 are very similar aircraft, suited for similar missions. As one would expect, the slightly larger A350-900 has a seat-mile cost advantage, while the 787-9 has an advantage in cost per block hour.

MORE DETAILS

But for now, Boeing's Dreamliner is just a dream, and there is no denying that the world's biggest flying jetliner is now a European aircraft -- the Airbus A380. Aerospace giant EADS, the parent of Airbus, was down 0.53 to 22.04, after the Airbus A380's maiden flight.

MORE DETAILS

The Bottom Line: The Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 are very similar aircraft, suited for similar missions. As one would expect, the slightly larger A350-900 has a seat-mile cost advantage, while the 787-9 has an advantage in cost per block hour. These aircraft are competitive, and nearly tie in economic performance.

MORE DETAILS

The 787 was designed to be the first production airliner with the fuselage comprising one-piece composite barrel sections instead of the multiple aluminum sheets and some 50,000 fasteners used on existing aircraft. Boeing selected two new engines to power the 787, the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and General Electric GEnx.

MORE DETAILS

“In reviewing certification records, Boeing discovered an analysis error by our supplier related to the 787 forward pressure bulkhead,” said the company, referring to the portion of a plane at its nose that maintains the pressurized conditions in the cabin.

MORE DETAILS

Part of the 787 order will replace older Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft, with the 767 fleet including the oldest aircraft. As part of the announcement, United said that the 767 would be eliminated by 2030. United has a long history with the Boeing 767, placing the launch order (for 30 aircraft) on 14 July 1978.

MORE DETAILS

In July 2003, a public naming competition was held for the 7E7, for which out of 500,000 votes cast online the winning title was Dreamliner. Other names included eLiner, Global Cruiser, and Stratoclimber. All Nippon Airways launched the 787 program with an order for 50 aircraft in 2004.

MORE DETAILS

The Boeing 787 has similar safety features to the 777, but also features improvements such as a wider and longer aisle space for passengers and smoother engine takeoff capability which can reduce air turbulence and improve safety during takeoffs.

MORE DETAILS

One of the main advantages of the A321 on transatlantic routes is its range. With a maximum range of around 4,000 nautical miles, the A321 is able to fly nonstop between many cities in the US and Europe, including popular destinations such as New York, Boston, London, and Paris.

MORE DETAILS

In that case, “a nonstandard manufacturing process” affected two out of eight fittings that attached the tailfin to the fuselage. Repairs of that flaw are taking months per airplane. With this new defect on the 787 horizontal tail, Boeing declined to clarify exactly what it is that the fitting attaches to.

MORE DETAILS

The Boeing 787 is one of the newest planes to come into passenger service. First delivered in 2011, the aircraft has become a favorite for airlines thanks to its extensive range and fuel efficiency. And, for passengers, the travel experience was much better compared to older aircraft.

MORE DETAILS

The 787 was the first major commercial aircraft to use carbon fiber composite components in the fuselage and wing construction. These make the aircraft lighter but still offer high strength. New, more efficient engines. The 787 is designed to take either the General Electric GEnx or the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine.

MORE DETAILS

What is the longest flight in the world by distance? The longest flight in the world by distance is New York (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) on Singapore Airlines clocking in at 9,537 miles. What plane can fly the farthest in the world?

MORE DETAILS

The Dreamliner is a successful aircraft, still in production with more than 1600 delivered or on order. The list price for a new Boeing 787-8 is $239 million dollars. Yet even as international travel opens again for these long-range aircraft, two Dreamliners barely ten years old are waiting for the wrecker's ball.

MORE DETAILS

However, the $445 million price tag of each aircraft was not sufficient to even cover the production cost, so with Airbus losing money on each A380, and with orders evaporating, it made economic sense to cease production.

MORE DETAILS

The loudest aircraft still in commercial service in any significant numbers is the Boeing 727. The 727 is banned from most major airports due to its noise levels. Among aircraft permitted worldwide, the Boeing 747?400 is noticeably louder than other widebody aircraft such as 777, A380 and A350."

MORE DETAILS

Surprisingly, despite being bigger, the Airbus A380 can reach speeds of more than 1,000 kilometres per hour compared to the Boeing 787 which tops out at 954kph. Although both are very fast, passengers flying on the Airbus A380 could get to their destination quicker than those flying on the Boeing.

MORE DETAILS