Wirraway
3rd Feb 2004, 22:24
Wed "Sydney Morning Herald"
New Airbus passengers in for the long haul in one giant leap for mankind
By Anthony Dennis and Scott Rochfort
February 4, 2004
It's the ultimate in-flight movie marathon, billed by Singapore Airlines as the world's longest commercial passenger flight.
Today, the latest generation Airbus jet, the A340-500, touches down in Los Angeles, following the first 16-hour flight from Singapore, almost 15,000 kilometres or nine full-length feature films later.
That's nearly five hours longer than the 12,049-kilometre non-stop Sydney-Los Angeles Qantas service. Singapore Airlines also plans to fly across the North Pole, direct to New York, this year.
The new long-haul aircraft are posing new problems for airlines, including Qantas, which will take delivery in 2006 of the double-decker version of the long-haul Airbus, the A380, capable of seating more than 550 passengers and flying 14,800 kilometres nonstop.
Eventually, Australian travellers could be major beneficiaries of long-haul flights, turning the Sydney-London kangaroo route into one giant leap.
"We're just a few years away from that," said Eddie Lim, area manager for Emirates. "In less than a decade we'll see that. But there will still be a lot of people who will still want a stretch or a stopover."
While airlines debate the merits - and the economics - of flying longer distances, the race continues between the world's two largest aircraft manufacturers in ultimately building a passenger jet capable of flying nonstop between any two cities in the world. Boeing is expected to challenge next year with the launch of the 777/200 Long Range aircraft, which the company says will be capable of flying 16,500 kilometres, or for 19 hours, without refuelling. In other words, nonstop between Sydney and New York or Perth and London.
To make their long-haul flights as comfortable, healthy and entertaining as possible, airlines are considering new features, such as "five-minute showers" for first-class passengers, in-flight gyms and "shopping alleys" full of mini duty- free shops.
Already Emirates offers 500 channels of in-seat entertainment on its long-haul A340-500 flights between Sydney and Dubai, while the Singapore-Los Angeles direct route features a communal snack and drink area where passengers can (in small groups due to security issues), socialise and graze.
Crew on the A340-500s haven't been forgotten, with an enlarged rest area for the four pilots, who work in shifts.
==========================================
New Airbus passengers in for the long haul in one giant leap for mankind
By Anthony Dennis and Scott Rochfort
February 4, 2004
It's the ultimate in-flight movie marathon, billed by Singapore Airlines as the world's longest commercial passenger flight.
Today, the latest generation Airbus jet, the A340-500, touches down in Los Angeles, following the first 16-hour flight from Singapore, almost 15,000 kilometres or nine full-length feature films later.
That's nearly five hours longer than the 12,049-kilometre non-stop Sydney-Los Angeles Qantas service. Singapore Airlines also plans to fly across the North Pole, direct to New York, this year.
The new long-haul aircraft are posing new problems for airlines, including Qantas, which will take delivery in 2006 of the double-decker version of the long-haul Airbus, the A380, capable of seating more than 550 passengers and flying 14,800 kilometres nonstop.
Eventually, Australian travellers could be major beneficiaries of long-haul flights, turning the Sydney-London kangaroo route into one giant leap.
"We're just a few years away from that," said Eddie Lim, area manager for Emirates. "In less than a decade we'll see that. But there will still be a lot of people who will still want a stretch or a stopover."
While airlines debate the merits - and the economics - of flying longer distances, the race continues between the world's two largest aircraft manufacturers in ultimately building a passenger jet capable of flying nonstop between any two cities in the world. Boeing is expected to challenge next year with the launch of the 777/200 Long Range aircraft, which the company says will be capable of flying 16,500 kilometres, or for 19 hours, without refuelling. In other words, nonstop between Sydney and New York or Perth and London.
To make their long-haul flights as comfortable, healthy and entertaining as possible, airlines are considering new features, such as "five-minute showers" for first-class passengers, in-flight gyms and "shopping alleys" full of mini duty- free shops.
Already Emirates offers 500 channels of in-seat entertainment on its long-haul A340-500 flights between Sydney and Dubai, while the Singapore-Los Angeles direct route features a communal snack and drink area where passengers can (in small groups due to security issues), socialise and graze.
Crew on the A340-500s haven't been forgotten, with an enlarged rest area for the four pilots, who work in shifts.
==========================================