Types of Passenger Aircraft

Aircraft types operated or deployed in Civil Aviation by airlines and Charter Flight Operators is largely based on passenger traffic, airport facilities, distance to destination and number of frequencies required. Aircraft are mainly classified as Narrow Body and Wide Body Aircraft.

Narrow Body Aircraft

Aircraft with ONE AISLE in the passenger cabin are classified as Narrow Body Aircraft. Popular Narrow Body aircraft are Boeing 737(B737), Airbus 320(A320), ATR (Avions de Transport Regional) and Embraer.

Boeing is an American giant, Airbus and ATR are based in France and Embraer is a Brazilian company.

Narrow Body aircraft typically have a carrying capacity starting from a few passengers and up to about 300 passengers (more or less).

Narrow Body aircraft are suitable for short haul (up to 1500 kms) and medium range (up to 4000 kms) flight operations. Narrow Body Aircraft generally have two engines, either turbo-prop or jet engines.

Narrow Body aircraft can have Maximum Take Off Weight starting from a few tons to about 85 tons (more or less). They can land/take-off on short and medium length runway (about 5000 feet or more).

Wide Body Aircraft

Aircraft with MORE THAN ONE AISLE in the passenger cabin are classified as Wide Body Aircraft. Popular Wide Body aircraft are Boeing 747(B747), Boeing 777(B777), Boeing 787(B787 or Dream Liner), Airbus 350(A350) and Airbus 380(A380).

Wide Body aircraft can have a carrying capacity of 300, 400 or more than 500 passengers.   Wide Body aircraft can fly long range non-stop between continents.

Wide Body Aircraft in general have two or four engines (mostly jet engines).

Wide Body aircraft can have Maximum Take Off Weight of up to 575 tons. Hence these aircraft require a long runway (at least 8000 feet) to land and take-off.

Take off Weight of an Aircraft

Take Off Weight is the weight of the aircraft at the point of take-off. It includes empty aircraft weight, weight of passengers, baggage, cargo, catering, service amenities and aircraft fuel. The Maximum Take Off Weight is different for each aircraft and is specified by the aircraft manufacturer.

Passenger Aircraft Capacity

The passenger capacity of an aircraft depends on its size and Passenger Cabin Configuration. The common Passenger Cabin Configurations are:

• 1 Class or Single Configuration which is normally all Economy class
• 2 Class or Dual Configuration-Business and Economy class
• 3 Class Configuration-Business, Premium-Economy and Economy class
• 4 Class Configuration-First, Business, Premium-Economy and Economy

Any aircraft can have All-Economy class Configuration but it is mostly a Narrow Body aircraft. An All-Economy class aircraft is operated on routes where business class demand is negligible.

Premium Economy class is an intermediate cabin class between Economy and Business class. The first few rows of Economy class are configured as Premium Economy which are just after the Business class cabin.

Business class seats are spacious and offer more legroom. Some long-distance flights by some airlines offer Lie-Flat or Flat-Bed Business class seats.

First class seats are luxurious and offer privacy.  On some international airlines, it is fully enclosed like a private suite.

And to end this blog–

Aircraft are operated or deployed as per passenger traffic, passenger profile, distance to destination and airport infrastructure. Smaller airplane for normal passenger loads and short or medium distance. Bigger airplane for higher loads and longer distance.