commercialaircraft77: The world's major airlines employ large numbers of Airbus, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft for their fleets. To a lesser extent, Embraer and Bombardier aircraft are also part of major airlines' fleets. Embraer serves about 30 airlines in mostly regional markets as of 2010. Bombardier produces jets and turboprop aircraft and counts American Airlines as one of its clients.
Background
Background
Airbus and Boeing are capable of long-range destinations, while McDonnell Douglas aircraft are for medium-range travel. In 2011, Delta, American, United airlines and British Airways equipped their fleets with Boeings. United featured the Airbus A319 and A320, and Boeing 747-400, 757-200, 767-300 and 777-200 in its fleet in 2011. Delta used the Airbus A319-100, A320-200 and A330-300. Its Boeing fleet ranged from the 737-700 to the 777-200ER models. Delta's McDonnell-Douglas aircraft included the DC9-50, MD-88 and MD-90. American flew the Boeing 737-800, 757, 767 and 777. Its mid-range aircraft in 2011 were the Bombardier CRJ-700 and Embraer's ERJ-145, ERJ-140 and ERJ-135 models. Also in 2011, British Airways had extensive fleets of Boeings and Airbuses for long-range flights and Embraers for medium-range travel.
Airbus Family
The Airbus A300 series dates to 1974, with the smaller A310 arriving by the early 1980s. The single-aisle A320 remains one of the most widely use Airbus aircraft throughout the world as a short- and medium-range aircraft. The Airbus A320 family of aircraft include the A318, A319 and A321 models. Larger aircraft feature the A330/340 models launched in 2007 and capable of carrying up to 525 passengers. The A380 model features a double deck and passenger capacity of up to 853 people in a single-class configuration. The A380 can travel up to 8,300 nautical miles. The twin-engine long-range A350 XWB was set for launch in 2013.
Boeing Family
Among the Boeing aircraft is the single-aisle 757 models, an older model that debuted in 1979. British Airways and the England-based Eastern Airways are regular customers of the 757s. The 110-foot-long 737-700 can accommodate up to 149 passengers in a single-class configuration or 126 people in two classes. It has a range of 3,440 nautical miles. Boeing positioned the single-aisle 767 between the single-aisle 737 and two-aisle 777 aircraft. The extended-range 767 can seat up to 245 passengers. The 777-200ER can hold up to 440 passengers depending on the class configuration as a long-range airplane. It measures 209 feet long.
McDonnell Douglas MD-80
McDonnell Douglas is part of Boeing and builds the mid-size, short- and mid-range aircraft MD-80 family aircraft for regional routes. The MD-83, for example, is equipped with twin engines with a range of 3,260 nautical miles. Its capacity ranges from 137 to 172 passengers. Its total length is 147 feet. The MD-83 is one of five models in the MD family that also includes the MD-81, MD-82, MD-88, the MD-Super 80 and the short-range MD-87. McDonnell Douglas manufactured an estimated 1,100 MD-80s since 1980. Sales of the MD-Super 80 were slow until American Airlines purchased 67 in 1984. Today, American Airlines has 260 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 family aircraft in its flee(usatoday)
Airbus Family
The Airbus A300 series dates to 1974, with the smaller A310 arriving by the early 1980s. The single-aisle A320 remains one of the most widely use Airbus aircraft throughout the world as a short- and medium-range aircraft. The Airbus A320 family of aircraft include the A318, A319 and A321 models. Larger aircraft feature the A330/340 models launched in 2007 and capable of carrying up to 525 passengers. The A380 model features a double deck and passenger capacity of up to 853 people in a single-class configuration. The A380 can travel up to 8,300 nautical miles. The twin-engine long-range A350 XWB was set for launch in 2013.
Boeing Family
Among the Boeing aircraft is the single-aisle 757 models, an older model that debuted in 1979. British Airways and the England-based Eastern Airways are regular customers of the 757s. The 110-foot-long 737-700 can accommodate up to 149 passengers in a single-class configuration or 126 people in two classes. It has a range of 3,440 nautical miles. Boeing positioned the single-aisle 767 between the single-aisle 737 and two-aisle 777 aircraft. The extended-range 767 can seat up to 245 passengers. The 777-200ER can hold up to 440 passengers depending on the class configuration as a long-range airplane. It measures 209 feet long.
McDonnell Douglas MD-80
McDonnell Douglas is part of Boeing and builds the mid-size, short- and mid-range aircraft MD-80 family aircraft for regional routes. The MD-83, for example, is equipped with twin engines with a range of 3,260 nautical miles. Its capacity ranges from 137 to 172 passengers. Its total length is 147 feet. The MD-83 is one of five models in the MD family that also includes the MD-81, MD-82, MD-88, the MD-Super 80 and the short-range MD-87. McDonnell Douglas manufactured an estimated 1,100 MD-80s since 1980. Sales of the MD-Super 80 were slow until American Airlines purchased 67 in 1984. Today, American Airlines has 260 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 family aircraft in its flee(usatoday)
