Can A333(HGW) compete with B789 on short/medium haul routes? The answer seems to be no based on my estimates. The cabin area for both aircraft is nearly equal, and B789 in 9-abreast configuration should hold as many seats as A333 in 3-class configuration, if not more.

General Specifications:
....................................B789.......................A333HGW
Fuselage Length..............206..........................209 feet
Fuselage Width.................18.9........................18.5
Cabin Length...................159..........................165.25
Cabin Width......................18............................17.33
Wingspan........................197..........................198
Wingarea.......................3501.........................3892 sq. feet
Seats(3 class)..................280..........................280(@210 lbs. per passenger/baggage)


MTOW.......................553,000....................517940 lbs.
MZFW........................400,000...................388,453
OEW..........................260,000...................264,402 (OEW for B789 is my estimate)
MSP...........................140,000...................124,051
Design Range..................8,000.....................5,970 nm (passenger only, and zero cargo)
List Price..........................$218......................$222.5 million

For a 4,000nm trip(at MTOW),

B789 burns about 2,000 gallons less fuel than A333HGW--about $6,000 lower fuel bill.
B789 has the potential to carry 29,000 lbs. additional cargo relative to A333HGW if not volume constrained--about $10,000 additional cargo revenue at 50% load factor

The above savings amount to nearly $9 million per year assuming 1.5 trips per day on average.

For a 3,000nm trip(at MTOW),

B789 burns about 1,900 gallons less fuel than A333HGW--about $5,700 lower fuel bill.
B789 has the potential to carry 16,000 lbs. additional cargo relative to A333HGW if not volume constrained--about $5,500 additional cargo revenue at 50% load factor.

The above savings amount to nearly $6 million per year assuming 1.5 trips per day on average.

The operational benefits of B789 over A333HGW are nearly worth $40 to $50 million to an operator over the life of an aircraft. It is hard to see Airbus discounting the A333 that much to make it attractive to airlines, and still make a profit.

In another thread, I will compare the B789 to A359, and later on the hypothetical B787-10 to A359.