Page 61 - AA 2018_11

The A321neo has stolen a lot of MOM’s
As a MOM contender, Boeing’s NMA is The A321LR has an advertised
the unknown range nearly 100nm greater than
Most observers suspect Boeing’s NMA the 757-200’s. airbus immediately behind the wing (which
will end up being the 797, and the
expectation is that it is a twin-aisle
aircraft roughly the size of a 767, with
new engines, new wings and probably
a new carbon-fibre fuselage.
The “probably” on the fuselage
concerns the price of the aircraft,
which Boeing needs to keep relatively
low, especially since the 787 is a
capable but expensive plane. Too high
a price, and airlines may look more
appreciatively on cheap, late-model
(or second-hand) existing twinjets.
It may well be that Boeing goes for a
half-and-half approach or uses some
form of technological wizardry to try
to make the numbers add up.
One question still outstanding
is around the actual shape of the
fuselage. It seems that some markets
(usually exemplified by China and
east Asia) desire a relatively decent
cargo hold, while others (where the US
and Europe are the examples) place a
lower priority on cargo and a higher
priority on cabin space.
It’s all a bit of a “watch this space”
for airlines and observers. At this
point in time, if Boeing doesn’t launch
the NMA at the Paris Airshow in
June 2019, there’ll be a lot of surprise
and disappointment, which would, of The ACF configurations can
course, be good news for Airbus and enable more efficient use of
particularly the A321neo. cabin footprint. la compagnie the-market, and the jury is still out as
market already THE CONTENDERS
Airbus started out selling the A321neo
in 2010, and ran away with most of In the narrowbody corner
the lower end of the middle-of-market
segment after launching the extra- A321neo
fuel-tanks version, originally called Length: 44.51m
the A321neoLR and later shortened to MTOW: 97t
A321LR. Range: 4,000nm
As part of its plan to make the (in A321LR version
A321neo all things to all airlines, including three auxiliary
Airbus is also offering a rejig of its centre tanks)
doors, as the Airbus Cabin Flex, or Typical capacity: 206 passengers (2-class)
ACF, program. Rather than the four Maximum capacity: 244 passengers
doors seen on current versions, the
second set of doors disappears and is Boeing 737 MAX 9
replaced by either one or two overwing Length: 42.16m
exits. For very high premium layouts, MTOW: 88.3t (preliminary)
such as all-business-class airline Range: 3,550nm
La Compagnie’s A321neo, only one (with one auxiliary tank)
overwing is needed and the door Typical capacity: 178-193 passengers
Maximum capacity: 220 passengers
would be doors 3 on the current A321)
is deactivated, with consistent cabin Boeing 737 MAX 10
interiors making the changes almost Length: 43.8m
invisible to most passengers. MTOW: (not yet specified by Boeing)
ACF reduces weight and makes the Range: 3,300nm
cabin layout more flexible, especially (with one auxiliary tank)
for operators at the longer end of the Typical capacity: 188-204 passengers
range game where a premium cabin Maximum capacity: 230 passengers
means that there is less evacuation
pressure on the forward and centre In the widebody corner
doors.
Airbus has, however, been keeping A330-200ceo
its next move close to its chest. Its Length: 58.82m
options largely revolve around adding MTOW: 242t
extra frames to make a larger aircraft, Range: 7,300nm
extra fuel tanks to create an aircraft Typical capacity: 247 passengers
with more range, or both to create a Maximum capacity: 406 passengers
larger aircraft with the same range as
the A321LR. A330-800neo
At the risk of sounding as confusing Length: 58.82m
as Apple’s latest round of iPhones, let’s MTOW: 251t
call these the A321XLR (same size, Range: 8,150nm
more range), A322 (larger, no more Typical capacity: 257 passengers
range) and A322LR (larger, more Maximum capacity: 406 passengers
range).
It seems that all of these options Boeing 787-8
are technically possible for the Length: 57m
A321neo frame and the A321neo set MTOW: 228t
of engines from Pratt & Whitney or Range: 7,355nm
CFM. The question is which one – or Typical capacity: 242 passengers
ones – Airbus will jump at. Maximum capacity: (not specified by Boeing,
All could take a different bite out but 381 according to speci-
of different parts of the middle-of- fication documentations if
four type A doors installed)
to whether it makes more sense for
Airbus to wait until the 797 is more Boeing 787-9
firmly specified before revealing its Length: 63m
deck or to try to corner the market MTOW: 254t
earlier, as it has with the A321LR. Range: 7,635nm
Yet some airlines have already Typical capacity: 290 passengers
made choices for the A320neo family, Maximum capacity: (not specified by Boeing,
which will come with the ability to but 381 according to speci-
upgauge if needed. fication documentations if
“The Qantas Group has bought four type A doors installed)
A320neo and A321neo and they’re
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