Originally Posted by
TurningFinalRWY36
well that is obvious, just pointing out the better performance of the 350. Landing with just above FR is cutting it fine
If the blocked out seats at 45 detailed in the other post are accurate then that route is well beyond the optimum for the aircraft.
Not having maximum payload available is not unusual but actively further restricting available seating is
highly indicative that the route is beyond the aircraft. Simply put the weight of the aircraft curtailed in such a way to reduce inflight consumption etc. Getting the right aircraft for a route is a significant investment in specialist knowledge.
- With QF devoid of fleet choices a 'hail Mary' Little Napoleon route appears more PR than economics.
- Losing 19% of the ASK capacity makes the route all the more marginal.
As postulated in this thread, given the severity of European winter weather, be it cloud or wind often affecting the availability of LHR, crew duty limits and other metrics may well start to impact dispatch reliability.
Once it becomes common knowledge that the route is not dispatch reliable the passengers make more solid alternative arrangements. The next few months will be interesting to watch. Will Little Napoleon quietly move the route back through Singapore? An eight year circle back to the starting point?
At the end of the landing roll with minimum reserves (give or take) may be clever for the bean counter safely digesting plum pudding, but leaves very little margin for any number of factors to stack up against an operating crew.