Jax noticed that every big airplane at the airport says either "Boeing" or "Airbus" on it. He wanted to know the difference, so we looked into it together.
Where Are They From?
Boeing is an American company based in Chicago, Illinois. It was started way back in 1916 — over 100 years ago!
Airbus is a European company with factories in France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It started in 1970, making it much younger than Boeing.
Their Most Famous Planes
Boeing's Stars
- Boeing 737 — The most popular airplane ever made! There are over 10,000 of them flying around the world. It's a single-aisle plane used for shorter flights.
- Boeing 747 — The "Queen of the Skies"! This was the first wide-body airplane with an upstairs section. It changed air travel forever when it first flew in 1969.
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner — A modern, fuel-efficient plane made partly from lightweight carbon fiber instead of metal.
- Boeing 777 — A big, powerful twin-engine plane used for long international flights.
Airbus's Stars
- Airbus A320 — Airbus's answer to the Boeing 737. It's used by airlines all over the world for short and medium flights.
- Airbus A380 — The biggest passenger airplane ever built! It has two full decks and can carry over 500 passengers. Some A380s even have showers and lounges!
- Airbus A350 — A modern, efficient plane that competes with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.
- Airbus A330 — A popular wide-body plane used for medium to long flights.
How to Tell Them Apart
Here's a cool trick: look at the nose! Boeing planes usually have a pointier, more angular nose. Airbus planes tend to have a rounder, smoother nose. Also, Airbus planes have a wider cockpit window shape.
The Numbers Game
Boeing names its planes with 7s: 707, 717, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787.
Airbus uses the letter A plus three numbers: A220, A318, A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A350, A380.
Boeing vs Airbus: Head-to-Head Comparison
Here's how they stack up side by side:
- Founded: Boeing in 1916, Airbus in 1970
- Headquarters: Boeing in Chicago, USA; Airbus in Toulouse, France
- Best-selling plane: Boeing 737 (10,000+ built) vs Airbus A320 (10,000+ built)
- Biggest plane: Boeing 747 (double-decker) vs Airbus A380 (double-decker, bigger)
- Newest long-range plane: Boeing 787 Dreamliner vs Airbus A350
- Naming system: Boeing uses 7s (737, 747, 777) vs Airbus uses A + numbers (A320, A380)
Which Is Better — Airbus or Boeing?
Neither! Both companies make great airplanes, and most passengers can't tell the difference from the inside. Some airlines fly only Boeing (like Southwest), some fly only Airbus (like JetBlue), and many of the biggest airlines in the world fly both.
As a passenger, the airline matters more than the manufacturer — the seat layout, service, and legroom depend on the airline, not whether it's a Boeing or Airbus. But as an airplane spotter, learning to tell them apart is a fun skill!
Which Airlines Fly Boeing? Which Fly Airbus?
Here are some well-known airlines and what they fly:
- Boeing only: Southwest Airlines (737s), FedEx (cargo)
- Airbus only: JetBlue (A320s, A321s), Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines
- Mostly Boeing: United Airlines, Emirates (777s and A380s), Ryanair (737s)
- Mostly Airbus: Delta, IndiGo, EasyJet
- Both: American Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qantas
Jax likes to check which ones each airline uses — you can see that on any airline's page on our map. For more on the different sizes and types, see our article on types of airplanes.