According to a report on the "simpleflying" website on December 27, Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 have been dominating the global narrow-body fleet. However, competition is still ongoing, and the Russian MS-21 will be put into use in 2022. So what does it rely on to compete with Boeing and Airbus aircraft and their markets?
Boeing introduced the 737 in the 1960s to replac the three-engine 727. At the time it competed with Caravel airliners including Douglas DC-9, British BAC 1-11 and France Southern Airlines. Boeing’s innovation for its new twin-engine jet was to place the engine under the wings, which made the fuselage wider and easier to maintain. This made the 737 a success and started its success story.
Airbus only joined the competition in 1980. After the success of the first few models, Airbus launched the A320 series to fill the gap in the market for new narrow-body aircraft made in Europe. The A320 entered service with Air France in April 1988, and Boeing responded by developing the 737 NG series, which first flew in 1997. The same situation happened again in the competition between Airbus's improved A320neo and Boeing's 737 MAX.
Boeing has always been a leader in the delivery of the 737, but the A320 has taken the lead in sales. The Simple Flying website studied the latest situation in October 2021. The Boeing 737 has delivered 10,617 aircraft, while the A320 has been delivered to 1,0004. Boeing has 4076 outstanding 737 orders, and Airbus A320 has 5696 outstanding orders.
Although each delivered more than 10,000 aircraft, Airbus and Boeing did not resist the new competitors. Russian and Chinese manufacturers are planning to launch new narrow-body aircraft. Russian manufacturer Irkut developed the MS-21, and the first aircraft is expected to enter service in 2022.
So far, the project has two models. The smaller MS-21-200 will compete with Boeing MAX 7 and A319neo. The MS-21-200 is 36.8 meters long, while the MAX 7 is 35.56 meters long and the A319neo is 33.84 meters long. The larger MS-21-300 will compete with Boeing MAX 9 and Airbus A320neo. It is 42.2 meters long, almost the same as the 42.16 meters of the 737 MAX 9, and longer than the 37.57 meters of the A320neo. However, the actual number of seats depends largely on the airline's choice.
Interestingly, MS-21 will provide a wider cabin than Airbus and Boeing narrow-body aircraft, but this is not enough to add extra seats in the entire economy class, which will significantly improve the space and passenger comfort. Aisles and different seating options are possible. It will also affect the cargo space.
One aspect of the MS-21 that may disappoint is its range. The MS-21-200 is expected to be able to fly 6,400 kilometers, compared to the 7130 kilometers of the MAX7.
Of course, it is too early for MS-21 sales to approach Airbus and Boeing. The aircraft has not yet been put into aviation operations, and the epidemic and economic recession have undoubtedly changed the needs of many airlines.
As of November 2021, MS-21 has 175 orders from four airlines. This includes three confirmed Russian airlines-Aeroflot, IrAero and Red Wings airlines. Obviously, this is a very early stage, and the international market reputation has not yet been determined. However, if the price is right and the aircraft performs well, there will always be room for competition.
