Boeing’s new 777X offers significantly larger cabin windows than Airbus’s A350

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Boeing’s new 777X offers significantly larger cabin windows than Airbus’s A350

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Howard McKenzie, Chief Engineer of The Boeing Company and Executive Vice President of Engineering, Test & Technology | Boeing

By Sky Industry News

Oct 14, 2025

The Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-300ER are two leading widebody aircraft known for their advanced technology and passenger-friendly features. Both aircraft use significant amounts of carbon-composite materials, which help reduce weight and improve efficiency. The A350 was designed to compete directly with the Boeing 777, especially the 777-300ER model.

A notable aspect of both planes is their cabin windows. While manufacturers highlight larger windows as a selling point, there are differences between the two. The A350's windows measure 9.5 inches by 13.5 inches (24.13 cm by 34.29 cm), making them the largest on any Airbus-designed aircraft so far, but still smaller than those found on Boeing's models.

Boeing's 777 series, introduced in 1995, originally featured passenger windows measuring 10 inches by 15 inches (25.4 cm by 38.1 cm). According to Boeing, these are about 12% larger overall than the A350's windows. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner surpasses both with even larger windows at 10.7 inches by 18.4 inches (27.2 cm by 46.7 cm).

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The new Boeing 777X will include cabin window designs that are higher and larger than previous versions of the 777, although not as large as those on the 787 Dreamliner. Boeing states that the new windows will be approximately 162 square inches (1,045.2 square centimeters) in size—about a 29% increase over the A350’s window area.

Airbus generally installs smaller windows compared to Boeing across its fleet, including the A320 and A330 families when compared to their respective competitors from Boeing. This approach reflects Airbus’s focus on saving weight throughout its designs—a philosophy evident in decisions like window sizing.

"Designing and installing larger windows does almost nothing for an airline, at least on the surface," according to industry analysis provided in this report. "Most passengers don't notice subtle differences in size, and if anything, it's the placement of the windows that matters more to customers."

Larger cabin windows do not directly impact fuel efficiency or operational costs but can contribute positively to a passenger’s perception of modernity and comfort inside an aircraft cabin.

In summary, while both Airbus and Boeing continue to innovate with composite materials and advanced engineering solutions, their differing philosophies are reflected in details such as window size: Airbus prioritizes weight savings while Boeing emphasizes passenger experience through features like larger cabin windows.