Originally Posted by
Volume
What still puzzles me is why an 1980s short range aircraft becomes more economic on the transatlantic routes than a 2010s long range aircraft by simply adding additional fuel tanks
Did the modern engineers f*** up the A350/787 design so badly, that an old low sweep all metal wing with a larger engine more disturbing it can beat them ?
6 abreast seating should create a more streamlined hull than 9/10 abreast seating as the fuselage cross section grows as the diameter squared.
(It's a bit flattened but still)
You also have one aisle for 6 rows, not 2 aisles for 9/10 rows.
I'm not sure how bending moments on the longer fuselage affect the weight but that could also be a factor.
The modern widebodies are all designed to fly 12 to 18 hours, not 6-8 hours.
Isn't it also much cheaper per seat to buy and service an A320 compared to an A350?
I'm mostly guessing, maybe someone can elaborate or refute the points i made.