Seat Capacity of Selected Aircrafts

Main pre-1985 models are characterized by high capacity, such as the 747 and the L1011. They were attempts to replace low capacity and low performance models. While the 747 and the DC10 were mainly built for intercontinental flights (the 747-100 was also used for short high capacity flights, mainly in Japan), the L1011 targeted continental services. Although Boeing continues to provide high capacity planes (747-400 and 777-300), main post-1985 models have a lower capacity but increased fuel efficiency. This fit well the requirements of regional hub-and-spoke networks that have emerged since deregulation (1978) where smaller capacities and high frequencies are the norm.