Analysis: What Are The Operating Costs Of The Main Widebody Aircraft Families? (2024)

As the market for air travel become more competitive, airlines must look for ways to increase profits without dramatically raising ticket prices. One of the most effective means of accomplishing this is by reducing aircraft operating costs.

The three leading US airlines (Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines) have fleets consisting of various Airbus and Boeing widebody aircraft. A 2021 study examined the operating costs of the most popular widebody variants to determine which are the most profitable for airlines on average.

The results show that the most expensive aircraft to operate is the A330-200, at over $35 per seat hour. Comparatively, the widebody aircraft with the lowest operating cost, the Boeing 787-10, is just $19.54 per seat hour.

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Operating costs of aircraft

US passenger air travel today can be described as an oligopoly, with the three major US carriers (Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines) solidifying their market dominance. Although many ultra-low-cost carriers have emerged to offer essential service on routes ignored or discarded by these major airlines, the three leading carriers continue to provide the majority of airline service in the country.

In such a market, the major airlines cannot compete on pricing. Instead, being the lowest-cost operator is the way to come out ahead. By having the lowest operating costs, an airline can remain competitive in ticket pricing while maximizing its total profits. Higher profits, in turn, enable these airlines to push higher-cost operators out by requiring them to either increase pricing (thus becoming less attractive to passengers) or find alternative markets.

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In a 2018 economic report on aircraft operating costs, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) analyzed the factors contributing to airline costs. As explained in the report, cost data are defined as either variable or fixed.

Variable costs fluctuate as aircraft usage changes and include fuel, oil, maintenance, and crew costs. According to Skylink, crew and maintenance costs typically account for over 25% of an airline’s total operating costs. Alternatively, fixed costs show little or no change in proportion to aircraft usage changes.

Because airline operating procedures vary widely and fuel prices fluctuate, costs are estimated by combining fixed costs with the most common figures reported on variable costs. Therefore, the operating cost data presented below represent average costs.

Airbus widebody aircraft

Since its creation of the world’s first widebody, twinjet aircraft in 1972 (A300), Airbus has risen to become a leading commercial aircraft manufacturer. According to the Airbus website, there are over 12,000 Airbus aircraft in fleets around the world.

Today, the leading widebody aircraft produced by Airbus belong to one of two families: the A330 and A350 families. The double-decker A380, while still used by some airlines in international markets, is out of production and has not proven as successful as other widebody Airbus models.

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According to ch-aviation, Delta Air Lines is the only of the three major US carriers with active widebody Airbus aircraft. Delta’s fleet currently contains 69 A330 variants and 30 A350-900s. Forty-six additional widebody Airbuses are scheduled for delivery.

United Airlines’ Airbus fleet currently consists of narrowbody A319 and A320 aircraft. However, 45 A350-900s are scheduled to be delivered in upcoming years, adding a widebody variant to the airline’s fleet.

American Airlines does not currently fly widebody Airbus aircraft but has 15 inactive (stored) A330-200s. Additionally, the airline operated nine A330-300s until 2020. Based on the data provided by ch-aviation, American Airlines seems to be focused on expanding its narrowbody Airbus fleets (with 149 A320Neos scheduled for delivery).

Airbus A330 family operating costs

The Airbus A330 is the smallest of the manufacturer’s current widebody aircraft. The family consists of four main variants, and the A320 family also has "ceo" and "neo" variants.

• A330-200
• A330-300
• A330-800
• A330-900

According to AirInsight Group, the A330-200 has the highest operating costs per seat hour of all active widebody aircraft. Data from 2021 shows the A330-200 at over $35 per seat hour. Comparatively, the A330-300 is reported at $21.43, making it the cheapest widebody Airbus to operate.

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The A330-900 has proven to be more popular than the A330-800 variant, which is not present in any of the three leading US airlines’ fleets. The A330-900 has a cost of $22.43 per seat hour, making it cheaper than the A330-200 but more expensive than the A330-300. However, the A330-900’s 24.5% range improvement over the A330-300 continues to make it attractive to airlines despite its higher operating costs.

Airbus A350 family operating costs

The Airbus A350 is one of the most popular and modern twin-engine widebody aircraft in the skies today. The A350 family is comprised of the A350-900 and the longer-fuselage A350-1000. Currently, the only A350 model operated by US carriers is the A350-900. However, Delta has 20 A350-1000s scheduled to be delivered in the coming years.

Per data from 2021, the A350-900 has a cost of $22.81 per seat hour. The aircraft has a range improvement of 34.8% over the Boeing 777-200, and Airbus states that its aircraft reduces maintenance costs by 25% compared to the 777. United will likely eventually replace its 777 fleet with its 45-ordered A350-900s.

While operating cost data for the A350-1000 was not included in the 2021 report, Airbus provides general information on its website. The A350-1000’s innovative features and design improve efficiency and greatly reduce operating costs. Airbus also states that the aircraft has a longer range and burns 25% less fuel than its nearest competitor.

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Boeing widebody aircraft

Since its humble beginnings in 1916, Boeing has become one of the largest global aerospace manufacturers and the largest US exporter by dollar value. According to Boeing’s website, more than 10,000 Boeing commercial aircraft are currently in service, and over 5,700 are on order.

The leading widebody Boeing aircraft present in passenger fleets today are the 767, 777, and 787. The 777 family has proven to be the most popular widebody Boeing aircraft, and the manufacturer plans to distribute its first 777X in the next year or two.

According to ch-aviation, the leading US airline with the largest Boeing widebody fleet is United, with 220 aircraft. United’s fleet is composed of:

• 767s (53)
• 777s (96)
• 787s (71)

Comparatively, American’s widebody fleet contains 777s (67) and 787s (59), and Delta’s consists of just 65 Boeing 767s. United also has 150 787-9s scheduled for delivery, and American Airlines has an order for 30 aircraft of the type.

Boeing 767 family operating costs

The 767 family includes the 767-200, 767-300, and ER variants (767-300ER and 767-400ER). The 767-300ER is the most popular variant in US fleets.

According to the 2021 report, the 767-300 has an above-average operating cost, at around $30 per seat hour. In comparison, the 767-400’s operating cost is listed as $22.91 per seat hour, placing it just above the A330-300’s cost ($21.43).

Boeing 777 family operating costs

The 777 family consists of several variants, including:

• 777-200
• 777-200ER
• 777-300
• 777-300ER.

Currently, the three leading US airlines operate just these variants: 777-200, 777-200ER, and 777-300ER. United is the only major airline with active 777-200s.

The 777-200 and 777-200ER have the highest operating costs at an above-average price of nearly $28 per seat hour. The 777-300ER has a lower operating cost ($26.03), although it still falls above the average.

Boeing 787 family operating costs

The Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” is an innovative aircraft that paved the way for other long-haul twinjet aircraft such as the Airbus A330neo, A350, and Boeing 777X. The 787 family consists of three variants:

• 787-8
• 787-9
• 787-10

The smallest of the 787 family is the original variant, the 787-8. This aircraft also has the highest operating costs of the three variants, coming in around the 767-300’s range of $30 per seat hour.

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The most popular variant, the 787-9, competes directly with the A330-900. The Boeing aircraft has higher operating costs ($25.86 per seat hour) than its Airbus counterpart ($22.43).

The largest and newest 787 variant, the 787-10, is also the most efficient and cost-efficient, per the data from AirInsight Group. With a cost of just $19.54 per seat hour, this aircraft is the lowest-cost widebody aircraft active in the leading US fleets.