As the aviation industry continues to prioritize sustainability, questions about fuel efficiency between two iconic aircraft—the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747—are gaining attention. These aircraft have been pivotal in shaping commercial air travel, but their fuel efficiency has become a critical factor in today's environmentally conscious landscape.
The Airbus A380 generally surpasses the Boeing 747 in fuel efficiency per seat mile. This is attributed to its modern engines and larger passenger capacity, which distribute fuel consumption more effectively on a per-passenger basis. However, the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental narrows this gap with its updated engines and aerodynamics.
According to data from Airbus, the A380 achieves approximately 0.1 miles per gallon (mpg), whereas the older Boeing 747-400 is around 0.2 mpg. Despite appearing less efficient at first glance, the A380's higher passenger capacity improves its mpg per seat on long-haul flights.