Which is Better for Iran: Boeing or Airbus Wide-Body Aircraft?

Following the incident involving a Mahan Boeing 747 where one of its four engines detached during flight, fortunately, the largest aviation disaster in Iran did not occur, but this event serves as a wake-up call for Iran's aging fleet of wide-body aircraft. With the lifting of sanctions on aircraft purchases for Iran under the nuclear agreement, Iran can now upgrade its airline fleet. But how many wide-body and long-range aircraft does Iran need? According to the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, Iran will need at least 400 new aircraft in the next 10 years, of which 30 to 40 percent will be wide-body and long-range, amounting to between 120 and 160 aircraft. Wide-body aircraft have two aisles and typically have a fuselage diameter of 5 to 6 meters. Iran Air was the first Iranian airline to use long-range and wide-body aircraft. Even the Boeing SP747 was designed and built specifically for Iran Air. This model is slightly shorter than the Boeing 747–100 and has a longer range. The goal of purchasing this aircraft at that time was to operate on the Tehran-New York route, which was considered the longest flight route in the world at that time. Iran Air currently has one SP747 and three 747 series 200 aircraft. The three SP747s of Iran Air have been retired and are no longer usable, and they are usually used as parts suppliers for the remaining four aircraft. All of Iran Air's 747s were purchased before the revolution. Based on the initial nuclear agreement, Boeing agreed to repair and ensure the safety of the aircraft purchased before the revolution. On the other hand, Boeing, in its first contract with Iran since 1979, sold Iran Air manuals, maps, navigation guides, and flight data. For this reason, Farhad Parvaresh, the CEO of Iran Air, has stated to Reuters that Iran prefers to prioritize suppliers who collaborated with Iran during the easing of sanctions in 2014. This may be a reason why Iran Air favors Boeing over its competitor Airbus, but contrary to the 747s, the remaining wide-body aircraft in Iran are all Airbus, which may give Airbus a better chance for a deal with Iran. Iran Air was one of the first companies in the world to purchase the Airbus 300. After the revolution, Airbus was willing to sell directly to Iran several times. Iran Air currently has 16 Airbus 300 and 310 aircraft, the most modern of which are four Airbus A300-600R and two Airbus A310-300. All of this company's flights to Europe are conducted with these six models, which are often under maintenance, causing numerous delays or cancellations of some of Iran Air's flight routes. The Airbus A300 was produced in various types from 1972 to 2007. This aircraft has a range of 7,700 kilometers and can carry 260 passengers in two classes. The A300-600 is the most advanced type of this model, while the smaller A300 is a reduced version of this aircraft. In contrast, Mahan, Iran Air's competitor, is in a much better position; this company has managed to purchase seven very modern Airbus A340–600 aircraft in recent years by circumventing sanctions. One of the Airbus aircraft purchased by Mahan was the former aircraft of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Airbus A340–600 is one of several types of the 340 model. This model of wide-body passenger aircraft is primarily used for transporting a large number of passengers over long distances and has been produced in three models: 300, 500, and 600. The 300 model is designed for routes over 13,700 kilometers and can carry 300 passengers. The 500 model, which is the longest-range model, can transport over 313 passengers over a distance of 16,668 kilometers. Singapore Airlines uses this model for its Singapore-Los Angeles route, which takes over 19 hours. The 600 model, which is the longest version of the 340, can carry 360 passengers in three classes or 419 passengers in two classes for routes over 14,000 kilometers. This aircraft is a high-consumption model due to its four engines, and many airlines worldwide now prefer the two-engine Airbus A330 instead of this model. Mahan has a total of 40 long-range aircraft, including 16 Airbus A300, 11 Airbus A310, four Airbus A340–300, seven Airbus A340–600, and two Boeing 747–300. Aseman Airlines, as the third-largest Iranian airline, only has one Airbus A340–300. But which of these aircraft should be replaced? Based on the flight age of all 747s of Iran Air and Mahan, they are considered outdated, and although the safety of these aircraft is very high and the repair capabilities, especially in Iran Air, are strong, the lifespan of this model of aircraft in Iran has long since ended. The same judgment can be made about more than half of Iran Air's Airbus fleet. However, Mahan's Airbus aircraft are in much better condition due to less operational time, but this company also needs modernization and new purchases. While there are many competitors like Bombardier from Canada and Embraer from Brazil for Boeing and Airbus in the field of aircraft with a capacity of less than 200 passengers, these two companies still hold a monopoly in the market for wide-body passenger aircraft. But among the new models of these two companies, which one is the best option for purchase? Farhad Parvaresh, the CEO of Iran Air, has stated that wide-body jets such as the A330 and A350, 777, and 787, and 'perhaps' the 747–8 could be suitable for Iran Air. Among the models mentioned by Farhad Parvaresh, the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 are the newest models. These two models are competitors and are considered each other's main rivals. But which one is better and more suitable for Iran? The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is currently the most advanced aircraft manufactured by Boeing. This twin-engine passenger jet has a capacity of 240 passengers in the series 8, 290 in the series 9, and 330 in the series 10 in two classes. This aircraft has higher fuel efficiency compared to other Boeing passenger aircraft and is the first Boeing to use composite materials in most of its body. This Boeing has unparalleled maneuverability among passenger jets and ascended vertically into the sky immediately after takeoff during a demonstration flight. The price of this model is $224, $264, and $306 million for series 8, 9, and 10, respectively. The Airbus A350, the competitor of the Boeing 787, is a wide-body twin-engine passenger aircraft that, like the 787, uses composite materials in its construction, which reduces fuel consumption and enhances the aircraft's maneuverability. Airbus claims that the fuel consumption and operational costs of this aircraft are significantly lower than those of the Boeing 787. Qatar Airways was one of the first buyers of this aircraft. This model can carry 276, 315, and 387 passengers in two classes in series 800, 900, and 1000, respectively, and costs $269, $304, and $351 million, respectively. The maximum speed of the Airbus 350 is about 0.89 Mach, while the maximum speed of the Boeing 787 is about 0.90 Mach. In terms of range, the Airbus 350 has a range of about 14,350 kilometers, while the Boeing 787 has a range of about 14,100 kilometers. Based on these technical evidences, the Airbus can carry more passengers and has a longer range, but the Boeing has greater speed and maneuverability. However, the Airbus 350 is more expensive than the Boeing 787. The two models Airbus A340 and A330 are compared to the Boeing 777; according to various technical reports and comparisons, the Boeing 777 has lower fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs compared to Airbus. Most airlines worldwide use the Boeing 777 for their longest-range aircraft. The Boeing 777 has a range of up to 17,000 kilometers. The diameter of a 777 engine is the same as that of a Boeing 737. This aircraft is also considered one of the strongest engines in passenger aircraft worldwide. This aircraft has a capacity of 450 passengers in two classes and costs about $320 million. In contrast, the Airbus A330 can carry 330 passengers in two classes and costs $250 million. The Airbus A340–600, with a capacity of 410 passengers in two classes and a range of 14,600 kilometers, costs $270 million. Among the heavyweight wide-body aircraft, the two Boeing 747 series 800, priced at $357 million and capable of carrying 600 passengers, are compared to the Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, priced at $428 million and capable of carrying 800 passengers. The Airbus A380 has two disadvantages for Iranian airlines compared to the Boeing 747: first, only two airports can accommodate such an aircraft in Iran, and second, the maintenance costs of this aircraft are very high. Overall, considering the factors mentioned, if we take price alongside factors like range, number of seats, and the familiarity of Iranian airlines with Airbus, the best option for purchase in the class of wide-body aircraft in Iran is the Airbus A330. However, if modernity and the use of the latest technologies are also added to the previous factors, the Boeing 787 is a suitable option. Of course, for specific uses such as high operational range and a large number of passengers, especially for Hajj flights, the two options of Boeing 777 and 747 series 800 seem logical for Iranian airlines.