THE SKIES
DAILY FLIGHTS: 102,465
PLANES: 23,600
ANNUAL PASSENGERS: 4,100,000,000
Boeing and Airbus are the two largest manufacturers of aeroplanes. In 2014 they had respective annual revenues of $90billion and $81billion.
The two, responsible for the majority of commercial aircraft, race each year to shift the most units - in 2016 Airbus delivered 688 aircraft next to Boeing’s 748. As of the end of July, Airbus had orders for more than 17,000, mostly its A320 model, while Boeing’s backlog is 5,705.
Building on the success of the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner families, the 777X will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world, unmatched in every aspect of performance. But performance is just part of the story. The cabin interior of the 777X is inspired by the comforts and conveniences of the 787 Dreamliner, with larger windows, a wider cabin, new lighting and enhanced architecture — all of which will be custom-tailored for a unique 777X experience.
As the newest member of the Airbus widebody family, the A350 XWB is an example of how this inspirational blend of science and nature represents another significant evolution in the ongoing mission to conceive and manufacture the perfect aircraft.
The A350 XWB has learned from nature to help ensure a healthy future for the planet, whether it’s the revolutionary adaptive wing design – inspired by birds – which morphs while airborne to achieve maximum aerodynamic efficiency by optimising wing loading, reducing drag and lowering fuel burn; or the savings generated by innovative technological advances.
