The Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 dominate narrowbody fleets globally. Competition is on the way, though, with the MC-21 due to enter service in 2022. We take a look at where this could sit alongside Boeing and Airbus' aircraft and its market potential.
Airbus follows Boeing into the market
We all know that Airbus and Boeing dominate the narrowbody market today. It is worth a reminder, though, as we look at new options, that this was not always the case. Boeing launched the 737 in the 1960s as a replacement for the three-engine 727. It competed at the time with other aircraft, including the Douglas DC-9, the BAC One Eleven, and the Caravelle from Sud Aviation. Boeing's innovation for its new twinjet was placing the engines under the wing, enabling a wider fuselage and easier engine access. This, of course, took off and set the 737 on its successful long history.
Airbus joined the competition only in the 1980s. Having seen success with its earlier aircraft, the manufacturer launched the A320 family to address the gap in the market for a new European-constructed single-aisle aircraft. The A320 entered service in April 1988 with Air France, and Boeing responded with the development of the 737 Next Generation series, which first flew in 1997. The same happened again with Airbus' improved A320neo aircraft and Boeing's response with the 737 MAX.
Boeing has always been ahead in deliveries for the 737, but the race is close. The A320 has moved ahead in sales – but the 737 retains the lead for aircraft delivered. Simple Flying looked at the latest situation in October 2021, where 10,617 Boeing 737 aircraft had been delivered, against 10,004 A320s. Boeing had 4,076 unfilled orders for the 737 and Airbus 5,696 A320s remaining on order.
How does the MC-21 compare in size
Despite their 10,000 deliveries each, Boeing and Airbus are not resistant to new competition. New Russian and Chinese manufacturers are planning to go up against them with new narrowbodies. Russian manufacturer Irkut has developed the MC-21, with the first aircraft expected to enter service in 2022.
There are two variants planned so far. The smaller MC-21-200 will compete against the Boeing MAX 7 and the A319neo. The MC-21-200 is 36.8 meters long, compared to 35.56 meters for the MAX 7 and A319neo's 33.84 meters. Seating capacity looks like it will be similar - numbers being discussed are around 165 for the MC-21 compared with 172 for the MAX 7, but much will depend on what airlines choose to install.
The larger MC-21-300 will compete against the Boeing MAX 9 and the Airbus A320neo. It is 42.2 meters long, an almost identical measurement to the 737 MAX 9 at 42.16 meters. But it is longer than the A320neo's 37.57 meters. Again, much will depend on what configurations we see being adopted.
A wider cabin for the MC-21
Interestingly, the MC-21 will offer a wider cabin than both the Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies. This is not significant enough to pack in extra seating across the economy cabin but will make a noticeable difference for space and passenger comfort, with wider aisles and different seating options possible. It will also affect cargo space.
The MC-21 is 4.3 inches (11 cm) wider than the Airbus A320 and 11 inches (27 cm) wider than the Boeing 737. Simple Flying took a look inside the MC-21 during the MAKS-2021 airshow in Moscow.
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Slightly lower range
One area that the MC-21 potentially lets down is its range. The MC-21-200 is projected to be capable of flying for up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,400 km). This compares to 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 km) for the MAX 7. Likewise, the MC-21-300 is projected to come in around 10% lower than the MAX 9, and similar for the A320neo.
Orders for the new aircraft
Of course, it is early days to know how likely the MC-21 is to approach Airbus' and Boeing's figures. The aircraft is not in airline service yet, and the pandemic and slowdown have certainly changed the needs of many airlines.
We can get some idea of its early success by looking at advance orders. As of November 2021 (and according to data from ch-aviation.com), the MC-21 has 175 orders from four airlines. This includes three confirmed Russian airlines - Aeroflot, IrAero, and Red Wings Airlines. Clearly, this is very early stages - and international appeal has yet to be determined. If the price is right, though, and the aircraft performs well, there is always room for competition.
What do you think about the potential of a new narrowbody such as the MC-21? Where do you see it being popular? There is also, of course, competition from China and the COMAC C919. Feel free to discuss both of these aircraft further in the comments.