Originally Posted by
dr dre
The standard A350-1000 range without the extra fuel tank would be just enough to do SYD-JFK, and maybe MEL too but with potentially a few less pax. There’s also the 350-900ULR that’s already in service with SQ and has the extra range of the -1000ULR, but sacrifices some passenger capacity. So there’s options on the routes to NYC.
The real issue I think is to LHR. The track flies straight over a nation that is currently politically unviable for any Australian airline to fly over, lest alone they need to make an emergency landing in that nation. Flying a track away that doesn’t go over that country would be too much of a stretch, even for the -1000ULR.
As it looks like the pariah status of that nation won’t be changing for the foreseeable future I doubt that’ll become an option before the flights were due to start.
Very astute observation. And the region you mention is like a Tetris game if which countries can't be overflown. I'm sure that on a great circle within the route structure is viable but that route structure is a firm as warm custard.