The best-selling airplane of all time may not be No. 1 for much longer

[marmar]

(MarketWatch) It didn’t start off as a winner, and its maker considered canceling it. It has climbed, however, to the post of world’s top-selling commercial airplane of all time, a flying workhorse for airlines and the millions who fly on it everyday.

The little twinjet that could is, of course, the Boeing Co. BA, -1.05% 737. Anyone who has spent time at an airport in the last 20 years will have at least seen it, although its main competitor is nipping at its heels.

“If you are looking for the winner, the answer is clear,” said aviation consultant George Hamlin.

According to Boeing, the company has taken orders for 13,298 737s, with first orders in 1965, and has delivered nearly 9,000 of those orders.

In recent years, however, the Airbus 320, also a twin-engine, single-aisle plane, has been gaining ground. Boeing’s European competitor Airbus Group launched the A320 in 1988, and since then has taken 12,463 orders and delivered nearly 7,000 planes in the A320 family. ...................(more)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-best-selling-airplane-of-all-time-may-not-be-no-1-for-much-longer-2016-03-19

[FLPanhandle]

1. I fly a LOT

I'm on over 150 flights per year for work. Flown in everything.

I'll take a modern 737 over a modern 320 any day of the week.

The Airbus sells more for political reasons than they do because they are better airplanes. Note: Airbus still makes great planes but I wouldn't put the 320 in the "great aircraft" category.

[marmar]

2. I prefer the 737 to an A320, but....

.... I prefer an A330 to any Boeing widebody.

[FLPanhandle]

3. A330 is sweet although I haven't tried the 787 Dreamliner yet

Those I know who ridden the 787 have put it at the top of the list.

I'm hoping to get on one to Tokyo this summer.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

5. In economy it's a moot point

I have flown on Air Canada, British Airways and United's 787's. The economy cabin is wretched on all of them.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. The strengh of the A320 family is the A321

The A320 and 737 are relatively evenly matched in the 319/700 and 320/800 range. But the A321 blows the 737-900 out of the sky.

This has become a glaring problem as airlines are seeking larger and larger narrowbodies with longer range. If your evaluating between the A320 and 737 family based significantly on the characteristics of the A321 vs the 737-900, there is no competition.