Comparison of Chinese and Western commercial aircraft for fleet selection in a new short- and medium-haul airline
Fernández Boada, Ignacio (2026)
2026
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2026052818816
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2026052818816
Tiivistelmä
This thesis examines the selection of an initial aircraft fleet for a hypothetical European low-cost airline operating point-to-point routes in the short- and medium haul market. The study is based on the idea that fleet choice is not only a technical comparison between aircraft, but a strategic decision linked to the airline’s route network, expected demand, operating model and long-term risk.
Three narrow-body aircraft are considered: the Airbus A320neo, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and the COMAC C919 ER. The comparison is built around a defined mission profile and includes technical, operational, economic, regulatory and strategic aspects. The analysis considers factors such as capacity-demand fit, payloadrange capability, fuel efficiency, airport compatibility, turnaround performance, operating cost, certification status, programme maturity and support-network availability.
The methodology follows an applied comparative approach. First, the thesis reviews the background of short- and medium-haul air transport, low-cost airline operations, narrow-body aircraft development and fleet-selection criteria. Then, it defines the case-study airline and compares the selected aircraft against the mission requirements.
The results indicate that the Airbus A320neo is the most suitable option for this specific case, mainly because it offers a strong balance between operational performance, flexibility, market maturity and lower implementation risk.
Three narrow-body aircraft are considered: the Airbus A320neo, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and the COMAC C919 ER. The comparison is built around a defined mission profile and includes technical, operational, economic, regulatory and strategic aspects. The analysis considers factors such as capacity-demand fit, payloadrange capability, fuel efficiency, airport compatibility, turnaround performance, operating cost, certification status, programme maturity and support-network availability.
The methodology follows an applied comparative approach. First, the thesis reviews the background of short- and medium-haul air transport, low-cost airline operations, narrow-body aircraft development and fleet-selection criteria. Then, it defines the case-study airline and compares the selected aircraft against the mission requirements.
The results indicate that the Airbus A320neo is the most suitable option for this specific case, mainly because it offers a strong balance between operational performance, flexibility, market maturity and lower implementation risk.