Originally Posted by
AdamFrisch
Even more reasons to start thinking about an ULR direct route Heathrow-Sydney.
I don't think it's "even more reasons" at all. VS was an irrelevance in the UK-Australia market faced with the competition, especially the Gulf competition. How many successful ultra-long-range routes can you point to around the world? Is there really a demand to be squeezed into an economy seat for 20+ hours rather than stopping and stretching your legs in the middle? Plus the advantage of a hub midway is that the hub airline can use larger aircraft with lower seat costs, so can price more aggressively.
I bet most of the costs involved here is by having to keep a hub, personnel, aircraft, service going for that last leg.
I'd suggest a big chunk of the costs of a ULR service would be fuel (especially the fuel burnt in order to carry fuel) and the costs of keeping a small special-purpose ULR fleet.
Heard the new 777-8X will be able to do it and carry a payload.
Oh, well, if it can carry a payload...
