Two families spanning several generations
The figures cover the A318 through A321 and the 737 Original through MAX. Comparing an A320neo with a 737 MAX 8 is much narrower than comparing every aircraft carrying either family name.
Airbus A320 family vs Boeing 737 family
Compare the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families by first flight, seating, range, size, engines, variants, and production status.
Quick answer
The A320 and 737 are not single aircraft but long-running narrow-body families. In aviation.wiki’s approved figures, the A320 family reaches a higher published maximum range and seating ceiling, while the 737 family has the earlier first flight and a longer lineage. The useful choice depends on the exact variants and mission, not the family name alone.
Approved record data
Side-by-side comparison
Updated
| Measure | A320 family | 737 family |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Twin-engine narrow-body airliner family | Twin-engine narrow-body airliner |
| First flight | 22 February 1987 | 9 April 1967 |
| Entry into service | 18 April 1988 | 10 February 1968 |
| Production | 1986–present | 1966–present |
| Status | In production and service | In production and service |
| Variants | A318, A319, A320 and A321; ceo and neo generations | Original, Classic, Next Generation and MAX families |
| Typical seating | About 100–244 passengers by variant | About 85–230 passengers by variant |
| Published range | Up to 4,700 nmi (8,700 km) for A321XLR | Up to about 3,850 nmi (7,130 km) |
| Length | 31.4–44.5 m (103 ft 1 in–146 ft) | 28.6–43.8 m (93 ft 8 in–143 ft 8 in) |
| Wingspan | 35.8 m (117 ft 5 in) with sharklets | 28.3–35.9 m (93–117 ft 10 in) |
| Engines | CFM56, V2500, LEAP-1A or PW1100G | JT8D, CFM56 or CFM LEAP-1B |
Values are taken from each subject's latest approved aviation.wiki revision. “Not listed” means the comparable field is not present; it does not imply a value of zero.
Context before conclusions
What the numbers mean
Range needs a variant label
The A320 figure is the A321XLR maximum and the 737 figure is the published MAX-family maximum. Neither number describes every member of its family or an airline’s real-world payload and reserve plan.
Both remain current
Both records are listed as in production and in service. That makes variant, cabin, engine, support network, and fleet commonality more useful decision factors than age of the original design alone.
Common questions
Which family is older?
The Boeing 737 first flew in 1967, twenty years before the Airbus A320 family’s first flight in 1987.
Which has the longer published range?
The approved family records list up to 4,700 nmi for the A321XLR and about 3,850 nmi for the 737 MAX family. Those are variant-specific maximums, not like-for-like operating guarantees.
Is this a direct A320neo versus 737 MAX comparison?
No. This page compares the full families. Use the linked aircraft articles and cited sources when evaluating individual variants.
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