Which airlines fly Airbus A350s or Boeing 787 Dreamliners to Australia?

In a two-class configuration the Boeing 787-10 carries 330 passengers while the Airbus A350-100 carries between 366 and 369. Both cruise at the same speed, 903 kph, but the A350 has a much greater range, 15,600 km as against the Boeing's 11,910 km.

The A350-1000 is slightly longer than the Boeing 787-10, 73.78 metres compared to 68.28 metres. It also has longer wings, a wider cabin, greater cargo carrying capacity, carries considerably more fuel and has more powerful engines.

However, the Boeing 787 is known to be the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the skies. A 2013 study that compared the Boeing 787-9 with the Airbus A350-900 found that the fuel consumption per passenger for the Boeing was 2.8 litres per 100km, against 3.08 litres per 100km for the Airbus.

In 2018, the Boeing 787-10 was priced at $US325.8 million ($A479.9 million) while the A350-1000 cost $US366.5 million ($539.8 million). That mirrors the price difference between previous versions of both aircraft, and that's the main reason there are more Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the skies than Airbus A350s.

Both the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 have loyal supporters. While they might argue over the merits of turbulence avoidance systems and noise-reducing chevrons on the engine nacelles, in terms of the passenger flight experience there's little difference between them.

Some might prefer the slightly more generous dimensions of the Airbus, some the technical refinements of the Boeing, but those passengers who express a strong preference for one or the other mostly do so out of brand loyalty – and possibly out of nationalistic pride.

However, there are a few small differences that can become important, and possibly irritating when you're locked into a pressure-sealed vessel for many hours at a time.

Windows

The 787 has the largest windows of any commercial aircraft. This is a plus for passengers, although some take issue with the electrically dimmable windows that have replaced the conventional pull-down window shades.

These windows contain an electrified gel sandwiched between two thin pieces of glass. As the electric current increases, the gel darkens and as it drops, the gel lightens. Passengers can control the darkening effect of their individual windows, but cabin crew can override that control. The crew can and do dim the windows when it suits them, making it impossible for passengers to see what's happening outside.

See also: The scary reason plane windows are round, not square

Cabin air supply

In commercial aircraft the air that is supplied to the cabin is known as bleed air, drawn from the engine before the compressor stage. It can sometimes happen that lubricating oil seeps through seals in the engine and contaminates this supply, adding a potentially toxic element to the air that enters the cabin.

Breathing this air can cause a condition known as aerotoxic syndrome, and although many aircrew and passengers have reported symptoms associated with aerotoxicity, airlines and regulatory authorities continue to deny its existence. The 787 uses non-bleed air, neatly sidestepping the issue.

See: The most dangerous thing about flying can be the air you're breathing

Cabin noise

According to Airbus, at cruise altitude noise inside the A350 cabin, at 57 decibels, is five decibels quieter than the Boeing 787. That's a small difference that you'd only notice if you were to do a side-by side comparison, and that's not possible. In any case the advantage of flying in the slightly quieter cabin of the A350 could easily be negated if you were in close proximity to shouty passengers, or a noisy infant.

The airlines flying the Boeing 787 to and from Australia

• Air Canada
• American Airlines
• Air NZ
• ANA
• Etihad
• Japan Airlines
• Jetstar
• Korean Air
• LATAM
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Brunei
• Scoot
• Singapore Airlines
• United
• Vietnam Airlines
• Xiamen

The airlines flying the Airbus A350 to and from Australia

• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• Fiji Airways (starting December 1)
• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways
• Vietnam Airlines

Have you flown on a Boeing 787 or Airbus A350? Which aircraft do you prefer? Post your comments below.

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