Europe prefers Airbus A320neo over Boeing 737MAX – especially LCCs

Rising oil prices focus airline management on the need for the latest generation of fuel efficient aircraft. For the bulk of airlines and the bulk of routes, where narrowbodies dominate, this means the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737MAX families.

However, the 737 order backlog currently stands at around nine years, and the A320 backlog is 12 years (based on 2017 delivery numbers and current orders outstanding). Increases in production rates help to ease the backlog, but problems with engine delivery work against this.

This report examines data from the CAPA Fleet Database on Europe's A320neo and 737MAX fleets and orders. In Europe the A320neo is more popular than the 737MAX, and its popularity seems particularly high among LCCs. Pegasus Airlines is Europe's biggest neo operator and Norwegian is Europe's biggest MAX operator. Wizz Air has Europe's biggest neo order and Ryanair has Europe's biggest MAX order.