Dumb pilot comment, but direct routing ove Europe typically saves three to four minutes. How big an impact can that have? Three minutes, it's the difference of being number one or two for departure for example, or giving way to the Iberia in Madrid
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I understand that every tiny little bit helps, but if they start refusing directs, they might as well tell us all to forget econ speeds, fly at FL300 and descend 300 miles out. Ooops...that already happens.