Compare Airbus aircraft families from A220 to A380 by length, wingspan, cabin layout and seating, with legacy A300, A310 and A340 context.
In our Aviation & Real-World Flying coverage, the main Airbus commercial jet families are the A220 and A320 single-aisle aircraft, the A330 and A350 twin-aisle widebodies, and the double-deck A380. Size rises broadly in that order, although the longer A350-1000 is smaller overall than the wider, higher-capacity A380.
This comparison covers Airbus commercial airliners. Military aircraft such as the A400M and C295, along with Airbus helicopters, belong to separate product ranges.
Airbus family size comparison
By overall scale, the practical order is A220, A320 family, A330, A350 and A380.
| Family | Main passenger variants | Cabin | Length | Wingspan | Approximate airline seating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A220 | A220-100, A220-300 | Single aisle | 35.0–38.7 m | About 35.1 m | 100–150 |
| A320 | A318, A319, A320, A321 | Single aisle | 31.4–44.5 m | About 34.1–35.8 m | 100–240 |
| A330 | A330-200, -300, -800, -900 | Twin aisle | 58.8–63.7 m | About 60.3–64.0 m | 220–320 |
| A350 | A350-900, A350-1000 | Twin aisle | 66.8–73.8 m | About 64.8 m | 300–410 |
| A380 | A380-800 | Full-length double deck | 72.7 m | About 79.8 m | 500–600 |
These seating figures describe representative airline layouts, not certification limits. Seat pitch, premium cabins, galleys and crew-rest areas can change capacity substantially. Dimensions also vary slightly with the exact variant and wingtip arrangement.
The A320 row spans several markedly different aircraft, so our A318-to-A321 variant comparison gives the more useful breakdown within that family.
What does Airbus mean by an aircraft family?
An Airbus family is a group of related designs sharing major structural, cockpit or systems features, but its members may differ considerably in length, range and capacity.
The A320 family is the clearest example: the discontinued A318 is shorter than an A220-300, while the stretched A321 is considerably longer than either. The A220 also has a different design lineage because it began as the Bombardier CSeries before joining the Airbus range.
Suffixes usually identify individual variants. The A330-900, for example, belongs to the A330 family; it is not a separate family merely because it has newer engines and a different wing configuration. Our model-by-model guide to Airbus civil aircraft covers their roles and production status.
Which is the largest Airbus aircraft?
The A380 is the largest Airbus by overall volume, passenger capacity, wingspan and maximum take-off weight, but it is not the longest Airbus airliner.
The A350-1000 is about 73.8 metres long, slightly exceeding the A380-800 at roughly 72.7 metres. The out-of-production A340-600 is longer still at approximately 75.4 metres. None approaches the A380's full-length double-deck cabin or nearly 80-metre wingspan, which is why the A380 remains the largest overall; our explanation of the A380's size record compares those measures directly.
Length alone also gives a misleading impression of airport compatibility. A220 and A320 variants normally fall within ICAO Code C by wingspan, A330 and A350 aircraft within Code E, and the A380 within Code F. An A350-1000 can therefore be longer than an A380 while requiring a narrower stand.
Where do the older Airbus families fit?
The A300, A310 and A340 are legacy Airbus widebody families that remain relevant historically and through aircraft still in service.
- A300: Airbus's original twin-engine widebody, approximately 54 metres long depending on variant.
- A310: A shorter widebody development, approximately 46.7 metres long.
- A340: A four-engine long-haul family ranging from about 59.4 to 75.4 metres in length.
Freighter, corporate-jet and Beluga versions are derivatives rather than additional steps in the passenger-aircraft size order. The same applies to older or discontinued members such as the A318: they remain part of their established family.
Which Airbus family suits each type of route?
Choose an Airbus family by passenger demand, range, cargo needs and airport restrictions rather than physical size alone.
- A220: Best suited to thinner short- and medium-haul routes where a larger narrowbody would provide too many seats.
- A320 family: The mainstream choice for short- and medium-haul operations, with the A321 extending the family's capacity and route possibilities.
- A330: A medium-to-large widebody used for long-haul flying, regional high-capacity services and freight work.
- A350: Designed primarily for long-haul routes requiring more range, payload or seats than a narrowbody can provide.
- A380: Intended for very high-demand hub routes and dependent on airports equipped for its Code F wingspan, double-deck boarding and large passenger loads.
A common flight-planning mistake is selecting a stand from fuselage length alone. Check wingspan, stand code, terminal geometry and aircraft weight as well; runway requirements also change with payload, weather, elevation and departure distance.