In the Battle of the New 737 and A320, Passengers Won’t See Much New at All

Boeing says its new 737 MAX, the future replacement for its workhorse 737, reached 2,000 orders faster than any model in company history. Of course, rival Airbus has a new version of its top-selling A320 on sale. And that plane, the A320neo, has collected more orders to date and will enter service late next year, two years before the first MAX.

Both airplanes are being sold in large numbers because of their greater fuel efficiencies and commonalities with the models they’ll replace—factors that will save airlines enormous piles of cash. Yet for the passenger wedged into 22E on either plane, the brand-new version will look, sound, and feel just like the companies’ current models. For the next generation of 737s, the biggest change in the passenger cabin will be Boeing’s Sky Interior, which is now sold as an option for 737 customers. That version (video) offers larger overhead bins that fold up into the cabin, various “mood” lighting options, and sculpted walls and a ceiling that make the cabin appear more spacious.