On the Straight and Narrow

Single-aisle aircraft are marking a new era in transatlantic crossings

- Paul Thompson

IN THE PRECOMMERCIAL aviation era, crossing the Atlantic Ocean meant enduring days of discomfort on ocean liners, battling rough waves and weather, and facing potential exposure to contagious illnesses. However, the advent of commercial flights transformed transatlantic travel into a luxury experience. Pan Am introduced faster crossing times and lavish accommodations with its Boeing 314 flying boat in 1939. Subsequently, the jet age brought narrow-body aircraft into play, with BOAC’s de Havilland Comet 4 becoming the first scheduled transatlantic jet service in 1958. When the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 followed suit, they also offered a tight single-aisle cabin configuration.

The turning point arrived in 1970 with the introduction of the wide-body Boeing 747, launching the era of “jumbo jets” dominating ocean-crossing routes, offering spaciousness and new passenger amenities. But as airlines encountered new challenges such as rising fuel costs and crowded airports, they turned to next-generation narrow-body planes, such as the Boeing 757, for new point-to-point transatlantic crossings. This move reintroduced single-aisle operations to the congested market, gradually shaping travel’s evolution.

Boeing Losing Ground

Boeing’s position in the narrow-body transatlantic (TATL) market has been challenged since it last manufactured the 757 almost two decades ago. The 757 proved to be a successful aircraft for airlines such as United, Delta and American on routes from East Coast hubs to Western Europe.