Explained: What The Codes Mean Behind Airbus And Boeing Plane Names
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Commercial aircraft names are something most aviation enthusiasts will be familiar with. Indeed, almost all of you out there will know the difference between an Airbus A350 and Airbus A380. It would be another safe statement to say that those watching will know the difference between a Boeing 737-700 and 737-800.
But what about the difference between a Boeing 737-824 and a 737-8CT? It’s all, or at least some, of these extra numbers (and letters) that we’ll attempt to decode in the following video.
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747-8 Lufthansa • JUMBO 747-8 (DE)
777F Qatar Airways Triple Delivery • Triple deliveries of B...
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747-400 Last KLM • De final touchdowns va...
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A319neo Airbus • Airbus' A319neo takes ...
A310 Iran Air • Iran Air A310 Taking O...
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A321neo Air New Zealand • Our new A321neo
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PanAm Commercial 1979 • 1979 Pan Am Commercial
Pan Am Boeing 707 1959 • VHS-Rip Pan Am Boeing ...
A220-300 Airbus • Welcoming the A220-300
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767-400 Boeing • Boeing 767-400 Promoti...
777 SWISS • Fabulous views: new SW...
787-9 Air France Air to Air • Le Boeing 787 Dreamlin...
A350-900 Maiden Flight • A350-900 Maiden Flight
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What’s also interesting to know is that although both the base A321neo and A321LR can have an NX suffix, the A321XLR will get the suffix NY!
How do you keep the neo and LR apart then?
@@heybenjii5544 you can’t :/
@@heybenjii5544 LR is just a marketing thing. When an airline orders an A321neo, they can choose to configure the aircraft with a number of ACTs. When it is configured with the maximum number of ACTs (3 i think), it is marketed as an A321LR. The A321XLR, on the other hand, has a permanent integrated RCT which makes it a different aircraft type
No, they won't have the suffix NY. NX stands for the ACF cabin simply. The A321XLR could be simply "N" actually but that's unlikely to happen.
@@kingsharkoon it’s going to be NY, and it couldn’t be just N as the XLR would also be an ACF.
But still, it’s going to be NY. Just look for MSN11000! What’s its designation? Right, A321-253NY!
Wow I thought I'd never understand the way these aircrafts are named, but this video put it so simply. Good pace, and lots of clarification on when confusion can occur when the manufacturer decides to break a pattern. Thanks!
This is what I need to know. Thank you!
11:05 it’s important to add though that the two NEO engine options also have their own respective number, so it’s not just the N! Aircraft, let’s say A320s, with the older engines can be for example A320-214s to A320-232s while NEOs can be A320-251Ns or A320-271Ns!
@@alunesh12345 if he loves me unconditionally, why should I even bother to confess? Don’t you see how annoying your comments are?
@@alunesh12345 Uhh sorry im not christian... im islamic
IATA codes can be a bit different from ICAO codes sometimes ... for example.\: As mentioned at the end of the video the code for Airbus A321neo is "21N" (ICAO code).....but the IATA code is "32Q"... Just a faq :)
Also in the Boeing Suffixes .... SP is also a suffix: "SP" - Special Performance, Boeing 747SP , a shortened version of the 747 with longer range :)
For Boeing, it was the “D” for the Boeing 747-400D. This aircraft model is specific for 2 Japanese airlines; Japan Airlines & ANA. The “D” stands for “domestic.” Also, I don’t understand why Boeing decide to go with “D”/“Domestic” instead continuing with the “SR” or “Short Range” just like to the 747-100SR. For Airbus, it is ether the “E” or “X.” Not sure about that, but it might include, usually to an A330/A340.
Airbus A330-E stands for A330 "Enhanced"
I might know an answer as to why the 747-400D wasn’t called SR, but I’m really not sure.
The 747SR had a designation similar to the 747SP, for example "747SR-46". So it wasn’t handled as a version of the 747-100 but rather as a separate variant. If they now also named the 747-400D 747SR you’d have two 747 variants with the same designation which are from different generations. So maybe that’s why!
Like I said, just my thoughts!
Also there is the 747-100. BSR
Great videos! Keep 'em coming.
Some suggestions for future videos:
1) how aircraft registration signs for each country are created;
2) how IATA / ICAO city codes are created ie LHR for London Heathrow but YYZ for Toronto;
3) there's a whole realm outside of the airlines known as GA, General Aviation - lots of variety in that.
For Boeing, it's usually because of the customer code, like United Airlines customer code for Boeing was 24, Saudia (Saudi Arabian airlines) customer code for Boeing is FG/68, Kuwait airways customer code for Boeing is 69 and so on. Ryanair has a customer code which is AS, it stands for *A* ir *S* tair, we all know that Ryanair have Airstairs fitted on their Boeing 737's. Airbus on the other hand, have different numbers that stand for the engine type or for the configuration of the aircraft (depending on the airline) like for instance, the A330ceo 'current engine option' has three engine options, the GE CF-6, the P&W PW4000 and the RR Trent 700. A330's with CF-6 engines are either an A330-302 or an A330-303, or for the -200 it's the A330-202 or an A330-203 and this depends on the variant of the engine. A330's with PW4000 engines are either an A330-322 or an A330-323,and for the -200 it's the A330-222 or an A330-223. And last but not least, A330's with RR trent 700 engines are either an A330-342 or an A330-343, and for the -200 it's the A330-242 or the A330-243. And for aircraft configurations, the A321neo for example can either be an A321-251 or an A321-271,this depends on the configuration the airline has chosen, so one will have 10 emergency exits while the other will have 8 only.
What about the 77W and 773 etc?
@@rayanaltowayan9558 773 stands for 777-300
77W I have read from many people that they aren't sure why Boeing chose *W* , but I'll try my best to answer your question :D
@@rayanaltowayan9558 ريان انت سعودي؟
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انت طالب في الطيران؟ انا طالب أولى ثانوي 😆💔
There is no Simple Flying video where I had more aha moments than this one! Thanks for this video!
Ps. There are 757-200 PFs, those are planes that used to be passenger aircraft that were converted to freighters.
@@TonyM132 Ok, thanks!
Now I had another 5 "aha" moments!
wow I actually requested this video some time ago. Not sure if its coinsidance or what but thanks Simple Flying
@@alunesh12345 thanks :)
Very useful video ☺️! Have been searching for such a video for months) thx
Greatings from Russia
This channel deserves more subs!
Great video! 5:04 some carriers have dropped the word MAX because the name has a negative connotation with the public now after the two 737 max crashes and subsequent worldwide grounding of aircraft
As far as I know, the aircraft known as the “727-100” did not use the -1XX suffix. It was just known as the 727. Thus, the American Airlines variant was known as the 727-23, not 727-123.
The early 727 was just the "Boeing 727" and has added the Boeing Customer Code (as you said -23). The 727-200 came about as the "Boeing 727 Stretch" but really quickly entered as the Boeing 727-200 (so -223 for AA's 722) which in return made the 727 become the 727-100 and therefor from then they were called -123 if they were AA planes. :)
Great video, you did a nice job presenting the info. One you missed was the 737-700/800/900IGW, IGW for increased gross weight, which is the Boeing Business Jet or BBJ.
Thank you so much for this video, even after a couple years after getting into commercial aircraft, I only just learnt these things
Small correction: Warthog is a nickname for the A-10, the official name is Thunderbolt II, also the F-35 is called Lightning II
I love these types of videos. I always wondered what some codes from my local airport's incoming and outgoing traffic meant. Now I will be able to understand better, and I guarantee I will use this knowledge to impress people too
You missed out the designators for the A330 family. -203 is GE powered, -223 is P&W powered, -243 is RR powered
It's not the same with the A340, with the 311, followed by the 312 and the 313, all with the same engines but with a little improvement of power with each version.
What about customer numbers? Boeing lists Delta Airlines as customer number 32; therefore, their 767-400s are listed as 767-432.
That’s.. literally what the first 57% of the video covers
He literally talks about customer codes for most of it
Very intriguing video guys, well done!!
This is something I have always wondered about. Thanks a lot for this video
Thank you for watching, Naman. 😊✈️
The main Boeing suffix you forgot that I have yet to see anyone mention is SUD, or Stretched Upper Deck seen on certain 747-100, -200 and -300. One of the more notable examples of this was JAL having specially converted 747-100SR/SUDs.
I always love your videos here on Long Haul. This is no exception, thus being said; it's time for nit-picking!
You referenced the B737-200C as convertible when, in fact, the 'C' stands for Combination. Meaning this model is always going to be a combination of cargo space and passenger space; C-GOPW is a grand example of this.
As for what you meant: the B737-300, B737-400, and the B737-500 have a subvariant of 'QC' for Quick Change; or what you meant as Convertible between Cargo or Passenger but neither at the same time.
Thank you for another great video!!!!
additionally, there are other airlines with specific manufacture codes for them. Example: Emirates has a standard manufacture code for their B777 abbreviated as ''B777-31HER''
Yep just Like PIA has Boeing 777 340er and 240er and 24LR
240 LR
When it comes to Boeing, I eventually made an Open Office sheet of all the Boeing three digits codes I could find. For instance, on FlightRadar24 I once noticed a Boeing 747-428, back to the sky with passengers, currently flown by Air Atlanta Icelandic. The code 28 at the end of the type number means it's a former Air France 747-400. AF was indeed the first customer that bought this aircraft before it was sold a few years ago.
Quick correction. For the A-10, warthog is just a nickname. It's designated the thunderbolt II. The F35 is also a sequel of its namesake so it is the lightening II
I have learnt a lot from this video
Thank you guys our professor is showing some of your videos as examples
As an AMT I LOOOOOVE videos like this!
Thank you for watching! 😊✈️
I needed to know this too, especially aircraft within Air Canada’s fleet. Thanks for the explanation
Great video. I knew most of these except XWB.
Can't wait for the next video to come out where you explain the different ICAO codes such as 772, 738, 788 and all the others.
Airbus and Boeing aircraft codes and variant types can be great passwords 🤣
0:49 Nice to see the Varig L-188 Electra.
Please make an extended video of this. Or a part 2.
When are you going to bring out the ico numbers video??
There’s also the 747SP, standing for “special performance”. An odd offshoot of the 74 program as it didn’t carry any -xxx variants.
For beginners, plane spotting and identification is confusing enough and with all these extras will make it harder........ luckily, I'm an experienced enough to know most of these points.
thank you this was very helpful now tell me what STD means when it come ERJ-170STD.
My guess would be that it’s the "standard" variant as there aren’t any without any additions to the designation!
@@spongebubatz Standard indeed. Other options are LR, AR (actually IGW), SR as the most common but also LL, SU and SE.
My favourite is the 767-300ERBDSF
Wow this is really interesting. I knew about a few of these, but I also learned a lot!
Make a documentary documenting every or just get a Docs form explaining everything about all aircrafts please we want moreee
Can you list out the different aircrafts coming under Code E and code F
For airbus, their most unique lettering for their planes (for me) is the ST variants for the belugas. Not sure if others consider the beluga as the names of the plane.
Also, the 747 LCF, or the dreamlifter, was also another variation of the 747. Not sure if they were missed out due to them being complicated
And the Belugas have the designation A337 - 2 were flying today in UK (19 Jan 22)
7:58
QC: Quick Change (eg. 737-200QC)
SP: Special Performance (747SP)
Adv: Advanced (727-200Adv)
The QC is generally referred to as "QEC" for Quick Engine Change.
@@azmike1956 Jesus no. That doesn't exist at all. Who told you that one? lmao
The 737-200QC however does not exist and it's just the 737-200C. The QC are only always by 3rd party converted planes like the 737-300(QC). :)
@@kingsharkoon Actually the 'QEC' is a built in configuration to allow for streamlined maintenance on many commercial & military aircraft.
Good info.
One query in the Airbus section .......... is CEO 'Current Engine Option' or 'Classic Engine Option'. as I had previously thought.
My best guess is right now it's the former and in a few years it's the latter until it gets renamed to VEO (Vintage Engine Option).
Hey, Simple flying, I would like to see a video about the letters at the end of flight numbers, like 'SWR7345 Echo"
Usually because there's other flights which have the same number or similar going to the same airport so they add a alphabet to the end of the call sign. Such as in JFK where Turkish Flight 3 and Virgin Atlantic Flight 3 arrive within 1 hour of each other meaning they are bound to be on the same frequency at once at some point. So the Virgin callsign is "Virgin 3November".
Another suffix codes;
Airbus;
1. A310 Zero-G
2. A319OH
3. A320neoM3A
4.A321T
5. A330MRTT
6. A340-313X
7. A340-600HGW
8. A380plus
Boeing;
1. BBJC
2. 757-200M
3. 767-200AST
4. 767-200MMTT
5. 767-4SF
6. 747YAL-1
7. 747SCA
8. 747-400LCF
9. 747SP-SOPHIA
Another aircrafts;
~ BAE146/ Avro-RJ QC
~ Dassault Falcon 2000LXS
~ Embraer ERJ-145ER/LR/XR
And B77W and B773/2
And A220
Thank You I have learned a lot.
Thank you for your feedback. 😊✈️ - LR
I'm rather suspicious that neo is a reverse acronym - in itself neo has a meaning of "new" and it represented a new version of the plane with new tech, etc.
To prevent a future problem with naming a rejig of the plane's specs it was reversed acronymed to mean new engine option. The next version could possibly be called Reo: Recent Engine Option (or more likely just Rio).
I am a little less confused. Thanks for trying to explain this to me.
Here in Australia Qantas currently has Boeing 737-838, whilst their main rival Virgin has Boeing 737-8FE
❤️❤️❤️ beautiful video ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for your feedback 😊✈️ - LR
The closest? Dreamliner is the ONLY commercial plane that has/uses a name despite the alphanumerical call sign
Technically the A350 has a name as well: Extra Wide Body
this is really interesting, i knew this before watching this video and learned more about these names, also the a320 family like a320-111, 211, 212, 214, 233, 232. same with the a321 and 19 and 18
Make the next video about history of air Serbia I mean it is the 8th oldest airline tat is still flying
Boeing 747SP (Special Performance)
The prototype for the 707 was called "Dash 80", which was short for 367-80.
Ah, *sigh* Happy memories of landing at Kai Tek. Those were the days.
Dropping the MAX denomination.. clever move.
With most airlines reconfiguring cabin layout is there anyway to look at aircraft types for a particular airline and have a good idea what premium products would be offered?
You can check Seatguru! If you know which aircraft you will be on you can simply look at the configuration layout! Another way to find out what to expect is looking for trip reports and reviews here on UA-cam!
What About LCF for Large Cargo Freighter as for B747-400LCF
Could you explain why Newer aircraft models like the a350 and B787 don't start out with a lower number like "-100"? For a plane like the 737 or 777, they started with low numbers when they were released years ago, but it now seems like brand new plane models being released in the past 2 decades jump to higher numbers (ex. 787-8, a350-900, etc).
There isn’t really a reason for that, probably just marketing or thinking that it sounds better (which I say it does)
Manufacturers these day always manage to have a 8 somewhere in the aircraft designation to please their Asian customers who love the number 8 because it's a sign of prosperity and luck. Hence the 747-800s, the A380s, the 787s etc.
Maybe somewhat off-topic, however, I’d like to know why Airbus skipped the A360 and A370 (or if they’ll ever build any models with those designations), please.
You should do a long haul video explaining registration number patterns on airlines
There are also some suffix that didn't stick around, like HGW, PIP, etc....
Does Boeing "BBJ" apply to this naming convention?
you missed the SP (special performance) in boeing. ex 747-400SP
Thank you for your feedback ✈️ - LR
Don't forget the 747 SP? They use it for the SOFIA telescope. I think they used this kind for a bunch of other unusual activities also.
They only talked about the 747-8 in detail, of course they can’t cover every variant.
Also, they would’ve also missed the -100, -200, -300 and -400, not just the SP. Maybe you could even add the SR and D to that!
thank you
can we have a complete list of all of the minor endings for all the airlines for boeing please?
There are like 700 different codes, also they aren’t assigned to regions or countries in the world so they are in that sense random
@@spongebubatz I made myself a pretty thorough list of them including the asian carriers (with letters, for instance in Korea), they tell about the original customer who ordered any Boeing type at any time.
@@spongebubatz well i remember that on insta or something different countries had specific codes like China - all codes start with B------
@@harthepro4902 I think you‘re referring to the registration code, similar to the license plate of an aircraft. The Chinese prefix is B, followed by a four digit code of numbers or letters. Each country has its own system and how the code is made up
@@spongebubatz oh crap wait
It's no surprise that when you talked about the high density version of the 737 Max, you showed a picture of a Ryanair aircraft. If anyone wants to pack us in like sardines, it's going to be them.
You can also consider using sardines with no eyelids like the landing gear with no covers.
@@azmike1956 very good..... I like it..😉
3:04 Is that a 'shop... or did someone actually manage to collect the whole set, on a ramp somwhere?
It’s real, I think Boeing did that as a part of a celebration, maybe their anniversary or something comparable
@@spongebubatz Weird thing: I cannot *imagine* that photo being shot anywhere but Boeing Field... but the runway at Boeing is 3*2* Left. Wonder if the pic is so old they've renumbered the runway for magnetic drift.
Yup. Wikipedia says renumbered in 2017.
What's the difference between long range and extended range?
It’s basically just a name given to an aircraft with a longer range than the base version. While Boeing usually names the first range upgrade ER and the next one LR, Airbus did immediately go for A321LR and XLR or ULR on the A350. These were also the first Airbus aircraft that even got such an addition, I think.
What about the a340-8000
Never heard about this one.
8:00 SP: Special Performance
Boeing 737-800(SFP) - Short Field Performance. Most of the Air India Express aircrafts are SFP version of the 737s
You missed the ACJ version for Airbus
It’s just an added ACJ, same for Boeing and their BBJ
you forget d
I miss Embraer on this video (as they also have designatives for their liners ERJ1xx and E1xx-E2)
Even not being "commercial" aircrafts, should be mentioned here that the Executive/Business Jets follow the same convention with some variation
Boeing 7x7 has BBJ (Boeing Business Jet) appended at the name (e.g Boeing 737-8XX BBJ)
Boeing 7x7 MAX has VIP appended at the name (e.g Boeing 777 MAX 8 VIP)
Airbus designates ACJ (Airbus Corporate Jet) before the model (e.g ACJ340)
And Embraer uses the "lines" Legacy and Lineage for their Executive jets based on commercial aircrafts
You forgot the Boeing 737-8ZS (operated by S7 Airlines)
00:58
Boeing 787 - Dreamliner: "Am I a joke to you?"
You should mention that according to Boeing that is the very famous customer code system they launched with the 707 back in the sixties.
What would PCF on B757-200pcf stand for?
Precision Conversions Freighter. ✈️ -LR
@@LongHaulbySimpleFlying Thank you a ton!
In 1998, I flew on an Air France 777-200 IGW !!!
The 717 and A220 both being models inherited from another company and renamed to fit.
Originally the 717 were the military versions of the 707 : Air Force One and Two, and all the C135 variants (they were and still are many), in particular the KC-135s, E-8 JStars and E-3 Sentry.
I’ve noticed A220’s have started showing up (on Flightradar24) as BCS and then when you open up the flight it shows up as an A220
Is this going to be on the exam?😀
I preferred that airline codes are still being used by Boeing instead of model designation - for example F6 - Philippine Airlines, 67 - Cathay Pacific, 38 - Qantas, 36 - BOAC/British Airways
I know about that and especially this topic pretty well months before watching this very excellent video and i love it so much❤👍
And still no one has answered my big question:
Why do Boeing and AirBus no longer use -100, -200, etc and jump right to -800 for the first Gen of a new plane?
There is no 787-100 that I’m aware of, no A380-100, no A350-200.
Are all new planes limited to only three generations: -800, -900, -1000?
It’s just marketing and they probably think it sounds better (which I’d say it does). There isn’t really a reason as to why they ditched the -100, -200, ... naming pattern
Manufacturers tend to jump on the 8 or 800 (747-800) or A380 because they want to please their Asian customers, for whom number 8 is supposed to bring luck and prosperity.
You forgot the B773 code name which is the Boeing 777-300 Rolls Royce, like Korean Air operates Boeing 777-3B5, ANA operates Boeing 777-381, Cathay Pacific operates Boeing 777-31H same aircraft code of Emirates as Boeing 777-31H(ER) & Boeing 777-367, & Japan Airlines operates Boeing 777-346. And how about Boeing 777-3F6 ER?
What about the Airbus Beluga and the Boeing Dreamlifter?
The normal Beluga is an A300B4-608ST (ST for super transporter).
The BelugaXL is an A330-743L (so in that sense an A330-700).
The Dreamlifter has its normal type designation, including the airline code, followed by (LCF)
What is with the boeing 797
We don’t know yet, but it will likely be just "797-8" or "797-9" or whatever the versions will be called. The 787 and I think 777X as well don’t get customer codes anymore, just a single digit stating the variant!
8:00 SP = Special Performance (and technically SB = Short Body)
Also the a340-300 e
yay video
Airbus engine manufacturers (second digit in suffix):
0 - General Electric,
1 - CFM 56,
2 - PW,
3 - IAE,
4 - Rolls-Royce,
5 - CFM LEAP,
6 - Engine Alliance. Only one modification and used on A380 only. Made together by General Electric and Pratt and Whitney.
7 - PW GTF (PW1100G).
What about A320-214?
F-35 is NOT correctly called Lightning, but Lightning II, in honor if the original P-38 Lightning.
There was an 'English Electric Lightning' too ----- in the 60s and 70s - a supersonic fighter built in UK