Big Engines, Small Planes: Why the A350 Beats the 777 in Power

The Boeing 777 has sold more than any other twin‑jet, but its biggest model, the 777‑300ER, uses an engine that is huge and very powerful. The engine, a GE90‑115B, can push the plane with 115, 300 pounds of thrust. That is more than any other engine on a commercial jet that flies today. Airbus answered by building the A350. The A350‑900 is lighter because 53 % of its body is made from carbon composites, a strong but light material. Its engines, the Rolls‑Royce Trent XWB‑84, produce about 84, 000 pounds of thrust. That is less than the 777 engine, yet the A350 can carry almost as many passengers and fly farther on the same amount of fuel. The difference comes from weight. The A350‑900 can weigh up to 283 tonnes, while the 777‑300ER tops out at 351 tonnes. A lighter plane needs less thrust to lift off, so Airbus could use smaller engines and still meet range and payload goals.When Boeing made the 777‑X, it chose a new engine called GE9X. In service this engine will produce only 110, 000 pounds of thrust, lower than the GE90 on the older 777‑300ER. The 777‑X also has a new composite wing that will help it burn less fuel at cruise. So, even though the 777‑X is bigger than the 777‑300ER, its engines are less powerful. The A350’s advantage is not just thrust. Its composite construction and newer technology give it better fuel efficiency and lower operating costs. Airlines like the A350 because it can fly longer distances, carry more cargo, and use less fuel per seat than the older 777. In short, newer planes can do more with less power. Airbus’s lighter design and efficient engines let it compete with, and sometimes outshine, Boeing’s larger, heavier twin‑jets.