Compare the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 by size, seating, range, engines, fuel efficiency, comfort, airport needs and airline role.
The Airbus A380 is a four-engine, full-length double-deck airliner built to carry roughly 500-plus passengers between major hubs. The Boeing 787 is a smaller twin-engine, single-deck widebody for roughly 250–330 passengers and flexible long-haul routes. Their ranges overlap, but capacity, airport requirements and operating economics differ sharply.
Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 differences at a glance
In Aviation & Real-World Flying, these aircraft belong to different size and mission classes rather than being direct competitors.
| Feature | Airbus A380-800 | Boeing 787 family |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger decks | Two full-length decks | One passenger deck |
| Engines | Four | Two |
| Typical seating | About 545 in Airbus's reference layout; airline layouts vary widely | About 248 in the 787-8, 296 in the 787-9 and 336 in the 787-10 using Boeing's reference layouts |
| Length | 72.7 m | 56.7–68.3 m, depending on variant |
| Wingspan | 79.8 m | 60.1 m |
| Maximum take-off weight | Up to about 575 tonnes | About 228–254 tonnes, depending on variant |
| Published range | Approximately 8,000 nautical miles | Approximately 6,330–7,565 nautical miles, depending on variant |
| Primary role | Very high-capacity trunk routes between major hubs | Long-haul routes with lower demand, greater frequency or thinner city pairs |
| Airport category | ICAO Code F; specialised gates and taxiway clearance are often required | ICAO Code E; compatible with many more widebody airports and gates |
Seating and range figures are not perfectly like-for-like because manufacturers use reference cabin layouts and different payload assumptions. The 787 is also a three-aircraft family, so comparisons should identify the variant; our detailed breakdown of the 787 variants explains those differences.
Which is bigger, the Airbus A380 or Boeing 787?
The Airbus A380 is substantially bigger than every Boeing 787 variant in capacity, wingspan, cabin floor area and weight.
A common mistake is to compare only fuselage length. The 68.3-metre 787-10 is not dramatically shorter than the 72.7-metre A380, but the A380 has two wide passenger decks, a wingspan nearly 20 metres greater and more than twice the maximum take-off weight.
That size affects the entire operation. Airports handling an A380 need suitable pavement, taxiway separation, stands and boarding arrangements. It also receives the Super wake-turbulence designation, whereas the 787 is handled as a Heavy.
Do the A380 and 787 have similar range?
The A380 and longer-range 787 variants have broadly overlapping intercontinental capability, although the A380 has the higher headline figure and the 787-10 has noticeably less range.
Published range is not a guarantee that an aircraft can fly that distance with a full cabin and full cargo hold. Passenger count, freight, reserves, winds, diversion requirements and cabin configuration all affect the practical payload-range calculation.
The more meaningful difference is route economics. An A380 can move an exceptional number of people on one flight; a 787 can make a long route viable without requiring several hundred passengers on every departure.
Which is more fuel-efficient?
A Boeing 787 normally burns far less fuel per flight, while the per-seat comparison depends heavily on how many seats are installed and filled.
- Per trip: The smaller, lighter, twin-engine 787 has a clear advantage over the four-engine A380.
- Per available seat: A densely configured, nearly full A380 can produce competitive figures on a high-demand route.
- Commercial risk: The 787 is easier to fill, so airlines are less exposed when demand drops or varies by season.
- Maintenance: Four engines, A380-specific ground equipment and a smaller global fleet increase the complexity of supporting the Airbus.
This is why calling either aircraft simply “more efficient” is misleading. Airlines care about fuel and maintenance cost per flight, revenue per seat, cargo income, frequency and the probability of filling the aircraft.
Which aircraft is more comfortable for passengers?
Neither aircraft has a universally better cabin, but the A380 generally leads for space and quietness while the 787 offers distinctive environmental and window technology.
The A380's wide main deck and separate upper deck give airlines room for lounges, premium suites and less crowded-feeling cabin zones. It is also known for a notably quiet cabin, although seat position and airline layout still matter.
The 787 uses large electrically dimmable windows and a composite fuselage designed to support relatively high cabin humidity and low cabin altitude. Its common nine-abreast economy layout is 3-3-3; the A380 commonly uses 3-4-3 on the main deck. Actual seat width, pitch and padding are airline decisions, so the carrier's configuration often matters more than the badge on the aircraft.
Why would an airline choose one over the other?
An airline chooses the A380 when maximum capacity on a constrained trunk route outweighs its high trip cost; it chooses the 787 when flexibility, frequency and lower route risk matter more.
- Choose an A380-type mission for slot-constrained hubs, very dense passenger flows and routes where premium space and capacity can be sold consistently.
- Choose a 787-type mission for nonstop service between smaller city pairs, multiple daily frequencies, seasonal demand or airports without A380-compatible infrastructure.
The market moved strongly towards efficient long-range twins, which helps explain why A380 production ended despite the aircraft's capability. Production stopped in 2021, but the type continues to carry passengers in airline service.
Can a Boeing 787 replace an Airbus A380?
A single Boeing 787 cannot replace an A380 seat for seat, but one or more 787 flights can replace its role while offering different frequencies and route choices.
An airline might substitute two smaller departures, reduce total capacity, or send passengers through different hubs. This often improves scheduling and lowers the financial risk attached to each flight, although it may use additional airport slots and cannot match the A380's capacity in one movement.
How do the A380 and 787 differ to fly?
The A380 follows Airbus's side-stick and flight-envelope philosophy, while the 787 uses Boeing-style control yokes and different automation conventions.
Both are highly automated fly-by-wire aircraft, but the A380 has four thrust levers, much greater ground dimensions and enormous inertia. The 787 has two thrust levers, a smaller airport footprint and systems built around Boeing's more-electric architecture. Pilots need separate type training; familiarity with one does not make the other interchangeable.
For simulator pilots, the obvious visual difference is only the start. Accurate add-ons should reproduce their distinct flight-management logic, control laws, engine handling, cockpit displays and ground behaviour. Our comparison of Airbus and Boeing design philosophies covers the broader cockpit and automation differences.