Limited widebodies & high fuel prices: should older widebodies be replaced? Issue 57 Apr/May 08

A shortage of widebodies has developed since 2006, but fuel prices have reached unprecedented levels. Modern types such as the 787 and A350 are clearly more economic, but with a shortage of aircraft airlines have little choice but to retain older types. The relative economics of 1980s- and 1990s-generation small and medium widebodies are compared with the 787 and A350 families.