All well and good but what about the engine out gradient and the obstacles? Currumbin Hill? Its got nothing to do with the distance to Narita but all to do with the grunt using a smallish runway with obstacle limitations. 1.2% nett gradient engine out second segment limit. Maggotdriver is correct, its limiting and thats why the first 4 787-8 are orphans. They were ordered by Dixon to be domestic 767 replacements in 2008. The rest is history. Good to see J* international looses money now that mummy doesn't pay the fuel bills. Thanks Nic for exposing this charade.