Originally Posted by
Pearly White
JFK-SYD is well over the Boeing website range for the 789. 8,646 nm vs. 7530 nm. Is the max range they give based on MTOW?
What airframe could Boeing offer to deliver consistently reliable Syd-JFK and return operability with a commercial load? The 777-8 range is quoted by Boeing at 8,750 nm which is just over the Great Circle distance, but what are the air miles flown? Surely you'd need more range than just the Great Circle distance? And that's on paper anyway - fuel consumption might be worse with a plastic rather than paper aeroplane. If the 777-8 ever gets built...
AB is quoting 8,700 nm range for the A350-1000. A strategically-chosen number?
Airbus and Boeing both quote their ranges based on a 'standard' cabin layout and density. From memory I think it's about 365-370 pax. Qantas is planning a lower number of passengers, 300 or less, weighted towards F/J/W cabins. That lets them cut weight in passengers, baggage, seats (although premium seats are heavier...), food, water, crockery etc. All of that extends the range beyond the OEM's standard range.
JFK should be fine, range wise. LHR might require some seats to be blocked in economy depending on the winds.