Narrow-body
A single-aisle aircraft such as the A320 family or 737, the workhorse of short-haul and low-cost flying.
Definition
A narrow-body is an aircraft with a single aisle, usually seating three-and-three or two-and-two across. The Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 737 are the two families that dominate global fleets, with the A321LR and XLR stretching single-aisle flying onto transatlantic routes. Crew complements are small — typically three to six — and there is no crew bunk.
What it means for you
Most cabin crew careers start on a narrow-body, and at low-cost carriers they stay there. You work every sector with the same three or four colleagues, cover a lot of ground per person during service and have nowhere to rest between sectors beyond the jumpseat. The upside is simplicity, speed and being home at night.
In practice
Ryanair's fleet of around 600 aircraft is entirely 737s, and a Southwest crew member spends a whole career on the 737 flying four to six sectors a day.
Related terms
4 terms- Wide-bodyFlight operationsAn aircraft with a fuselage wide enough for two aisles — the 777, 787, A330, A350 and A380 — used for long-haul flying.
- Short-haulFlight operationsFlights of up to around three hours on narrow-body aircraft, flown as multi-sector days that usually end at home.
- SectorFlight operationsOne flight from take-off to landing. A day's duty is counted in sectors, and low-cost pay is often earned per sector.
- AisleAircraft & cabinThe passage between seat rows where service and passenger movement happen — one on a narrow-body, two on a wide-body.