The Two Best Passenger Aircraft in Service Today
The Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner are the two most advanced commercial passenger aircraft in regular service. Both use carbon-fiber composite fuselages — a technology that enables lower cabin altitude, higher humidity, and larger windows compared to older aluminum-body aircraft.
If you are flying long-haul and have a choice between the two, you are choosing between two excellent options. But they are not identical, and the differences matter on overnight flights.
The Core Difference: Fuselage Design
Both aircraft use composite materials, but the execution differs:
Airbus A350 — All-new design built from scratch with composites as the primary material. The cabin is pressurized to approximately 6,000ft equivalent with humidity maintained at 16–20%. The A350 entered service in 2015 and represents Airbus's clean-sheet approach to the long-range market.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner — Also composite, but Boeing's approach differed. The 787 pioneered composite technology for commercial aviation (entering service in 2011, before the A350). It achieves similar cabin altitude (~6,000ft) but slightly lower humidity (12–15%) than the A350 in many configurations.
Side-by-Side Specification Comparison
| Specification | Airbus A350-900 | Boeing 787-9 |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin altitude | ~6,000ft | ~6,000ft |
| Cabin humidity | 16–20% | 12–15% |
| Economy seat width (typical) | 18.0 inches | 17.3 inches |
| Economy configuration | 3-3-3 (9-abreast) | 3-3-3 (9-abreast) |
| Window size | Extra large | Extra large (electronic dimming) |
| Noise level | Ultra quiet | Ultra quiet |
| Range | 15,372 km | 14,140 km |
| Capacity (typical 2-class) | 315 | 296 |
| In service since | 2015 | 2014 |
Key finding: The A350 edges out the 787 on economy seat width (18.0 vs 17.3 inches on most configurations) and cabin humidity. The 787 counters with electronically dimming windows (the A350 has larger windows but manual shades).
Economy Class: Which Is More Comfortable?
On overnight flights, the A350 has a slight edge.
The 0.7-inch wider seat (18.0 vs 17.3 inches) may sound trivial, but across 12+ hours — and specifically for shoulder comfort while sleeping — it is noticeable. The higher cabin humidity (16–20% vs 12–15%) also means less eye and skin dryness.
However, the practical experience depends heavily on the airline configuration:
- Some airlines configure the 787 in a spacious 2-4-2 layout, giving very wide seats
- The A350 in 3-4-3 (10-abreast, rare but exists) is worse than the 787 in standard 3-3-3
Always check the specific airline's configuration, not just the aircraft model.
Business Class: Much More Airline-Dependent
Both aircraft support 1-2-1 lie-flat business class layouts, and both provide an excellent environment for business class travel. The choice between A350 and 787 business class comes down entirely to the specific airline's seat product, not the aircraft.
Singapore Airlines A350 business class ≠ all A350 business class. Evaluate the airline's seat, not the aircraft.
Which Routes Use Which Aircraft?
A350 operators: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Lufthansa, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines
787 operators: ANA, JAL, United Airlines, Air Canada, LOT Polish Airlines, Norwegian (787-9), Etihad, British Airways, Korean Air
If you are flying Asia–Europe, you are most likely on an A350 (especially Singapore, Cathay, Qatar) or a 787 (ANA, JAL on Pacific routes). Both aircraft cover similar ranges; the 787 is more widely deployed globally due to earlier introduction.
The Honest Verdict
Choose the A350 if comfort is your priority and you have a choice — slightly wider seats, higher humidity.
The 787 is excellent and meaningfully better than any aluminum-body aircraft (777, A330 classic). If your only long-haul option is a 787 vs a 777-300ER, take the 787 without hesitation.
Use our A350-900 vs 787-9 or A350-1000 vs 787-10 comparison tool to see all variant specs side-by-side.