couldn't be flown at the speeds as required by the QF timetable. That's why the LAX run is an hour longer than the 747, as they were burning the fuel at a rapid rate to fly the 14 hour sector as per the timetable.
Not true.
I'm not entirely sure as to why the planned sector times were increased but I suspect it was more to do with improving on-time performance. And yes, the times were increased about the same time the A380 came on the scene.
Standard cruise speeds for the 747 and A380 are pretty much the same. There might be .005 mach in it but that is about all. Added to that is the reduced TAS because the A380 cruises at a higher level. The 380 cruises pretty nicely at 0.86 if you want to. (so there MIGHT be 5kt - 10kt TAS or so in it?)
The fuel burn differential between a 0.86 and 0.84 cruise is not all that much.
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