Airplanes are often classified according to how many aisles of passenger seats they have. There are wide-body airplanes, and there are narrow-body airplanes. Wide-body airplanes have a single aisle of passenger seats, whereas narrow-body airplanes only have one aisle of passenger seats. Below are several facts about narrow-body airplanes, some of which may surprise you.
#1) Seats 100 to 240 Passengers
Narrow-body airplanes seat an average of 100 to 240 passengers. Some have more passenger seats, and others have fewer passenger seats. Regardless, most narrow-body airplanes have 100 to 240 passenger seats. In comparison, wide-body airplanes have up to 850 passenger seats.
#2) Originally Designed for Short and Mid-Range Flights
Narrow-body airplanes were originally designed for short and mid-range flights. In the 1960s, commercial airlines began using twin-engine narrow-body airplanes like the Boeing 737 Classic for short and mid-range flights. As narrow-body airplanes became more powerful, however, commercial airliners began using them for longer flights as well.
#3) Fuselage Width of 10 to 13 Feet
The average width of a narrow-body airplane’s fuselage is about 10 to 13 feet. With only one aisle of seats, they are narrower than their wide-body counterparts. The average width of a wide-body airplane is 13 to 20 feet, making them nearly twice as wide as narrow-body airplanes.
#4) Available in 2 to 6 Abreast Seating Configurations
You can find narrow-body airplanes in two to six abreast seating configurations. The term “abreast” refers to the number of seats per row. An airplane in a two-abreast seating configuration has two seats per row, whereas an airplane in a six-abreast seating configuration has six seats per row. All narrow-body airplanes still only have a single aisle of seats, but they have two to six seats per row depending on the abreast seating configuration.
#5) The Largest Narrow-Body Airplane Is the Boeing 757-300
There are dozens of narrow-body airplanes, the largest of which is the Boeing 757-300. It’s even bigger than the Airbus A320, which is another large narrow-body airplane. The Boeing 757-300 has an extended fuselage, allowing it to accommodate up to 295 passengers.
#6) Accounts for 60% of Commercial Fleets
Narrow-body airplanes account for roughly 60% of commercial airline fleets. Airliners often use them for domestic and regional flights. With their narrow design, they are more fuel efficient than wide-body airplanes. Narrow-body airplanes also take up less space at airports.
