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Western Jet Airliners

June 2025

Timeline overview of Western build jet powered airliners

From the golden age of propeller-driven classics to today’s sleek, fuel-efficient jets, the Western Airliners timeline offers a captivating journey through civil aviation history. Discover how each generation of aircraft - from the pioneering designs of the 1950s to the iconic jetliners that shaped global travel - ushered in new levels of speed, comfort, and international connectivity.

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This timeline highlights the launch dates, service periods, and significant milestones of the most influential Western-built airliners. Whether you're tracing the rise of narrow-body workhorses, wide-body marvels, or cutting-edge flagship models, you’ll gain a clear sense of how technological breakthroughs and airline requirements have driven aircraft design forward.

From the first jet powered airliner, the De Havilland Comet to the Airbus 380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, this overview covers the evolution of the jet airliner. In a separate overview we will cover propellor powered airliners.

Sort order:

2020

Wide-bodywidebody

In development

The Boeing 777X is the newest series of the 777 family, featuring fuel-efficient engines and composite wings with folding wingtips. It is the world's largest and longest twin-engine jet, designed to compete with the Airbus A380 and offer enhanced passenger comfort.

Variants

2017

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, in production, 160 build.

The Airbus A330neo is a wide-body airliner featuring new, more fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. It offers airlines a lower-cost, longer-range alternative to the original A330.

Variants

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, in production, 96 build.

The Airbus A350-1000 is a long-range wide-body airliner, the largest variant of the A350 family. It offers increased passenger capacity and range compared to the A350-900, competing with the Boeing 777 family.

Variants

2016

Active, in production, 1844 build

The Boeing 737 MAX was grounded worldwide after two fatal crashes caused by a faulty automated system. It has since been recertified with software updates and new pilot training.

Variants

Active, 155 build

The Embraer E2 family offers significantly improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise compared to the original E-Jets. These aircraft boast a new wing, enhanced engines, and updated avionics, making them more competitive in the regional jet market.

Variants

2014

Active, 3954 build (all variants)

The Airbus A320neo (new engine option) is a narrow-body airliner featuring new generation engines and fuel-saving Sharklets. It offers improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise compared to its predecessor, the A320ceo family.

Variants

2013

Active, 418 build

The Airbus A220 is a narrow-body airliner initially designed and marketed by Bombardier as the CSeries. Known for its fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, it's a popular choice for regional and short-haul routes.

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, in production, 658 build

The Airbus A350 is a long-range, wide-body airliner known for its fuel efficiency and advanced technology. It utilizes a significant amount of carbon fiber reinforced polymer in its construction, making it lighter and more efficient.

Variants

2010

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, 155 build.

The Boeing 747-8 is the largest variant of the iconic 747 jumbo jet family. It boasts improved fuel efficiency and range compared to previous 747 models.

Variants

2009

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, 1189 build.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a wide-body jet airliner known for its fuel efficiency and use of lightweight composite materials. It offers passengers improved cabin air quality and larger windows for a more comfortable flying experience.

Variants

2005

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, 254 build.

The Airbus A380 is the world's largest passenger airliner, a double-deck, wide-body aircraft. Despite its size and luxurious offerings, production of the A380 ended in 2021 due to lower than anticipated sales.

2002

Active, 1710 build.

The Embraer ERJ170/190 is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine regional jets seating 70-124 passengers. They offer a "big jet" feel with a spacious cabin and comfortable 2-2 seating, popular on regional routes.

Variants

2001

In limited service, 80 build.

The Airbus A318 is the smallest member of the Airbus A320 family, nicknamed the "Mini Airbus." It offers similar performance to its larger siblings but with reduced passenger capacity and shorter range.

Variants

1999

Active, 924 build.

The Bombardier CRJ-700 is a regional jet that seats around 70 passengers, offering a comfortable and efficient flying experience on shorter routes. It's known for its improved performance and range compared to earlier CRJ models, making it a popular choice for regional airlines worldwide. 700 series up to 78 passengers, 900: 90 and 1000, 104 pax.

Variants

1998

Active, 156 build

The Boeing 717, originally the McDonnell Douglas MD-95, is a short-range, twin-engine airliner known for its reliability and quiet operation. It was the last airliner designed and built by McDonnell Douglas before its merger with Boeing.

Variants

Active, 110 build.

The Fairchild Dornier 328JET is a regional jet developed from the turboprop Dornier 328, offering improved speed and range. Its short takeoff and landing capabilities made it suitable for smaller airports and niche routes.

Variants

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, 1632 build.

The Airbus A330 is a wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner known for its versatility, serving both medium- and long-haul routes. It's a popular choice for airlines due to its reliability, fuel efficiency, and passenger comfort.

Variants

1996

Active, 1500+ build.

The Airbus A319 is a shortened, single-aisle version of the A320, designed for short- to medium-haul routes with seating for up to 160 passengers. It offers efficient fuel consumption and is popular among airlines for its flexibility and performance.

Variants

Active, 7116 build

The Boeing 737-600/700/800/900 are a family of narrow-body airliners known as the "Next Generation" 737s, offering improved performance and fuel efficiency compared to earlier models. They are some of the most common and widely used aircraft for short to medium-haul flights around the world.

Variants

1995

Active, 1240 build.

The Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets popular for connecting smaller cities and providing efficient service on short to medium-haul routes. They are known for their relatively low operating costs and comfortable passenger experience despite their smaller size.

1994

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, 380 build

The Airbus A340 is a long-range, four-engine wide-body commercial airliner. It was designed to offer long-range capabilities without the need for ETOPS certification.

Variants

1993

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, 1757 build.

The Boeing 777, often called the "Triple Seven," is the world's largest twinjet aircraft. It's known for its impressive range, capacity, and fuel efficiency, making it a popular choice for long-haul flights.

Variants

Active, 47 build.

The Fokker 70 is a short-range, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner. It was produced by Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker as a smaller version of the Fokker 100.

Variants

Retired, 116 build.

The MD-90 is a stretched derivative of the MD-80, featuring fuel-efficient IAE V2500 engines for quieter and more economical operation. It was ultimately produced in limited numbers due to the Boeing merger and the rise of the Boeing 717.

Variants

1992

Active, 3513 build

The Airbus A321 is a narrow-body airliner, the largest variant of the A320 family. It offers increased passenger capacity and extended range compared to the A320.

Variants

1991

Active, 1021 build

The Canadair CRJ100/200 is a regional jet known for pioneering the 50-seat jet market. It helped connect smaller communities with larger hubs, making air travel more accessible.

Variants

1990

Wide-bodywidebody

Only in cargo service, 200 build.

The MD-11 was a wide-body airliner, developed as a successor to the DC-10, featuring a stretched fuselage, winglets, and advanced avionics. Despite its advanced features, it faced challenges due to its handling characteristics and engine performance, ultimately leading to its production being discontinued.

Variants

1989

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, 694 build.

The Boeing 747-400 is a wide-body airliner and the best-selling model of the 747 family. It features winglets and a more advanced avionics suite compared to its predecessors.

Variants

1988

Active, 12054 build

The Airbus A320 is a narrow-body airliner known for being one of the first to use a fly-by-wire control system. It is a popular choice for short to medium-range flights and has spawned a family of variants.

Variants

1986

Active, 283 build.

The Fokker 100 was a medium-sized, twin-turbofan jet airliner designed and manufactured in the Netherlands. It was known for its quiet operation and efficient short-haul performance, although production ceased in 1997.

Variants

1984

Active, 1988 build

These Boeing 737 variants, often called the "Classic" series (300/400/500), bridged the gap between the original 737 and the more modern 737 Next Generation.

Variants

1982

Active, 1050 build.

The Boeing 757 is a narrow-body airliner known for its impressive range and power, often used on transcontinental and transatlantic routes. It's easily recognized by its tall tail and slender fuselage.

Variants

Wide-bodywidebody

Retired, 255 build.

The Airbus A310 was Airbus's second aircraft, a shortened derivative of the A300. It was the first airliner to introduce a two-crew flight deck, pioneering cockpit advancements.

Variants

1981

Active, 394 build. Also known as Avro RJ

The British Aerospace 146, also known as the "Whisperjet," is a regional airliner known for its quiet operation. It's popular for flights to smaller airports with noise restrictions due to its four turbofan engines.

1979

Active, 1191 build (including MD-81/82/83/87 and 88 variations)

The MD-80 is a narrow-body, twin-engine jet airliner known for its fuel efficiency and quiet operation, developed from the Douglas DC-9. It was a popular choice for short-to-medium-range flights, especially in the US, during the 1980s and 90s.

Variants

1975

Wide-bodywidebody

2 still in service, 45 build.

The Boeing 747SP was a shortened version of the original 747, designed for ultra-long-range flights. Its reduced length allowed it to fly further and faster than other 747 variants.

Variants

1974

Wide-bodywidebody

Retired, 250 build.

The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar was a wide-body trijet airliner known for its advanced technology and quiet operation. It featured a unique direct lift control system and a distinctive S-duct engine configuration.

1972

Wide-bodywidebody

Retired, 561 build.

The Airbus A300 was the world's first twin-engine wide-body airliner. It paved the way for future Airbus successes and revolutionized air travel with its fuel efficiency.

Variants

1971

Retired, 12 Build.

The Dassault Mercure 100 was a short-haul, French-built jet airliner designed to compete with the Boeing 737 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9. Despite being technologically advanced, it achieved limited commercial success due to factors like high fuel consumption and a small production run.

Retired, 19 build.

The VFW-Fokker 614 was a short-haul jet airliner designed to operate from smaller regional airports. It was distinctive for having its engines mounted above the wing.

1970

Wide-bodywidebody

Retired, 386 build.

The DC-10 was a wide-body trijet airliner known for its spacious cabin and use on long-haul routes. However, it also gained notoriety due to several early accidents that raised concerns about its safety.

Variants

1969

Wide-bodywidebody

Active, 1574 build (all versions)

The Boeing 747, nicknamed the "Queen of the Skies," revolutionized air travel with its iconic hump and long-range capabilities. It democratized international travel, making it more accessible to the average person.

Variants

Retired, 20 build.

The Concorde was a supersonic passenger jet, capable of crossing the Atlantic in under four hours. It was a joint project between the UK and France, showcasing technological prowess and luxury travel at record speeds.

1967

Retired, 12060 build (all variants)

The Boeing 737-100 and 737-200 are the original, shorter variants of the ubiquitous 737 family. They were pioneers in short-to-medium range air travel, but are now mostly retired due to noise regulations and newer, more efficient aircraft.

Variants

Retired, 241 build.

The Fokker F28 Fellowship was a short-range jet airliner known for its quiet operation and ability to operate from unpaved runways. It was a popular choice for regional airlines due to its efficiency and versatility.

1965

Retired, 976 build

The Douglas DC-9 is a narrow-body, twin-engine jet airliner introduced in 1965. It was known for its T-tail design and economical operation on short- to medium-range routes.

Variants

1963

Retired, 1832 build.

The Boeing 727 was a popular mid-size, tri-jet airliner known for its ability to operate on shorter runways. It was phased out of most major airline fleets due to noise regulations and fuel efficiency concerns.

Variants

Retired, 244 build.

The British Aircraft Corporation BAC 1-11 was a short-range jet airliner, notable for being one of the most successful British airliners and the first to compete effectively in the US market. It was known for its rear-mounted engines and T-tail design.

1962

Retired, 54 build.

The Vickers VC-10 was a British long-range jet airliner designed in the 1950s. It was known for its quiet cabin and impressive takeoff performance, often operating from shorter runways.

Retired, 117 build.

The Hawker Siddeley Trident was a British airliner known for being one of the first to incorporate an autopilot system capable of performing automatic landings. It was also unfortunately known for experiencing multiple fatal crashes attributed to design flaws and human factors issues.

1961

Retired, 65 build (880), 37 (990).

The Convair 880 was a sleek, but commercially unsuccessful, jet airliner designed to compete with the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 in the late 1950s. It was known for its speed, being slightly faster than its competitors, but ultimately suffered from higher operating costs and fewer sales. The 990 was a stretched, faster version.

1959

Retired, 556 build.

The Douglas DC-8 was a pioneering jet airliner, instrumental in opening up long-distance air travel. It was the first jet-powered passenger aircraft produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, competing with the Boeing 707.

1958

Retired, 865 build.

The Boeing 707 was the first commercially successful jet airliner, revolutionizing air travel in the late 1950s. Its iconic design and reliable performance helped usher in the Jet Age, connecting continents and significantly reducing travel times.

Variants

1955

Retired, 282 build. Last active retired in 2005!

The Sud Aviation SE.210 Caravelle was a French jet airliner, notable for its rear-mounted engines. It was a pioneering aircraft, becoming one of the first successful short/medium-range jetliners.

1954

Retired, 1 Build. On display in the National Air and Space Museum.

The Boeing 367-80, nicknamed the "Dash 80", was a prototype jet airliner that paved the way for the iconic Boeing 707. It was not intended for commercial service but served as a proof-of-concept aircraft.

Variants

1947

Retired, 114 build.

The de Havilland Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner, initially revolutionizing air travel with its speed and comfort. However, early Comet models suffered from fatal structural failures due to metal fatigue, leading to design revisions and delays.