Wide Body Planes
Read all information on wide body aircraft, including the current models and specifications.
A Guide to Wide Body Aircraft
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Passengers & Class
What is a wide body aircraft?
A wide body aircraft is a wide airplane that has the capacity to carry a large number of passengers. Wide body aircraft are almost always used to operate long haul and medium haul flights but can occasionally be used on shorter flights.
A widebody aircraft can carry from 200–850 passengers and typically have two aisles per cabin. Wide body aircraft usually have two cabins or more with a combination of one Economy Class cabin and one or more Business Class, First Class or Premium Economy cabins.
The seat formation for a wide body aircraft will differ depending on the cabin class. In the standard Economy Class cabin, there are usually 7–10 columns of seats, split into three blocks which are separated by two aisles. Seats will typically be laid out in a 2 x 3 x 2, 3 x 3 x 3 or 3 x 4 x 3 configuration. Other cabin classes will have fewer seats, to allow for more room for the passenger.
There are two types of wide body aircraft — standard wide body aircraft and bigger wide body aircraft. The bigger type is referred to as a 'jumbo jet' and is often a double-decker with two floors of seating.
Wide body aircraft are used both in commercial passengers flights and cargo services by hundreds of airlines worldwide.
Who makes wide-body aircraft?
Wide-body aircraft are produced by several manufacturers around the world, including both established aerospace leaders and emerging players:
- Airbus - (Europe)
- Boeing - (United States)
- CRAIC (China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Corporation)
- McDonnell Douglas - (United States, legacy manufacturer)
- Lockheed - (United States, legacy manufacturer)
- Ilyushin - (Russia)
- JetZero (United States, startup with its first flight planned for 2027)
Who produces the best wide-body aircraft?
Airbus and Boeing remain the world’s leading wide-body aircraft manufacturers. Models such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 777X, Airbus A350, and A330neo are widely used across international airline fleets and are known for their range, efficiency, and passenger comfort.
Wide-body aircraft list
Take a look at our tables below to compare the different types of wide body aircraft models and their specifications. 👇
Currently Produced
| MANUFACTURER | MODEL | FIRST PRODUCED | CABIN WIDTH | ECONOMY CLASS SEATS PER ROW | SEAT FORMATION | SEAT WIDTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus | A330 | 1994 | 5.28 m (208") | 8 | 2 x 4 x 2 | 16.5–18" |
| Airbus | A350 | 2010 | 5.61 m (221") | 9 | 3 x 3 x 3 | 16.5–18" |
| Airbus | A380 | 2005 | 6.54 m (281") | "10 | "3 x 4 x 3 | 16.5–18" |
| Boeing | B747 | 1968 | 6.10 m (240") | 11 | 3 x 5 x 3 | 18" |
| Boeing | B767 | 1981 | 4.72 m (186") | 8 (upper deck)" | 2 x 4 x 2 (upper deck)" | 18" |
| Boeing | B777 | 1993 | 5.86 m (231") | "10 | "3 x 4 x 3 | 17–18.5" |
| Boeing | B787 | 2007 | 5.49 m (216") | 9 | 3 x 4 x 2 | 17.2" |
| Boeing | B777X | 2019 | 5.61 m (221") | 6 (upper deck)" | 3 x 3 (upper deck)" | 17.2" |
| CRAIC | CR929 | 2023 | 5.70 m (224") | "9 | "2 x 3 x 2 | 17.9" |
| Ilyushin | IL--96 | 1992 | 5.94 m (216") | 10" | 2 x 4 x 2" | 18" |
Previously Produced
| MANUFACTURER | MODEL | YEARS PRODUCED | CABIN WIDTH | ECONOMY CLASS SEATS PER ROW | SEAT FORMATION | SEAT WIDTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus | A300 | 1974–2007 | 5.28 m (208") | "8, 9" | "2 x 4 x 2, 3 x 3 x 3" | 17.2–18.2" |
| Airbus | A310 | 1983–1008 | 5.25 m (208") | 8 | 2 x 4 x 2 | 17.2" |
| Airbus | A340 | 1993–2011 | 5.28 m (208") | "8, 9" | "2 x 4 x 2, 3 x 3 x 3" | 16.4"–17.8" |
| Ilyushin | IL-86 | 1980–1994 | 5.70 m (224") | 9 | 3 x 3 x 3 | 18" |
| Lockheed | L-1011 | 1972–1985 | 5.77 m (227") | "9, 10" | "3 x 4 x 2, 3 x 4 x 3" | 16.5 |
| McDonnell Douglas | DC-10 | 1971–1989 | 5.69 m (224") | "9, 10" | "2 x 4 x 3, 3 x 4 x 3" | "18"" 16.5"" |
| McDonnell Douglas | MD-11 | 1990–2001 | 5.69 m (224") | "9, 10" | "2 x 5 x 2, 3 x 4 x 3" | 17.2" |
The best airlines with wide-body aircraft
Wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft are used by hundreds of airlines worldwide and play a key role in long-haul and international travel. While many carriers operate wide-body planes, a small number stand out for the sheer size of their fleets.
Currently, five airlines operate more than 1,000 wide-body aircraft combined, making them some of the biggest contributors to global long-haul travel.
Top 5 airlines using wide-body aircraft
- Emirates - 264 wide-body aircraft
- United Airlines - 227
- Qatar Airlines - 199
- Delta Air Lines - 176
- Turkish Airlines - 154
Emirates leads the way with the world’s largest wide-body-only fleet, making it a popular choice for travellers who specifically want to fly on wide-body aircraft.
Fleet statistics sourced from The Aviation Brief.
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Wide Body Aircraft FAQs
What is the smallest wide body aircraft?
The smallest wide body aircraft in the Boeing B767. The Being B767 is 48.51–61.37 m (159.2–201.3 ft) long, with a cabin width of 4.72 m (186"). The Economy cabin has either 7 or 8 seats per row.
What is the seat configuration for Business Class on wide body aircraft?
The seat configuration for Business Class on wide body aircraft will differ from plane to plane, but generally, it's set out in a 2 x 3 x 2 or 2 x 2 x 2 configuration.
What is the seat configuration for First Class on wide body aircraft?
The First Class cabin on wide body aircraft is usually set out in 2 x 2 configuration. In rare cases, it might be set out in 1 x 2 or 1 x 1. This will differ depending on the aircraft and airline flown on.
What is the most popular wide body aircraft?
The Boeing B777 is the most popular wide body plane, based on number of orders. In total, the aircraft has had over 2000 orders. This is more than any other wide body aircraft in history.