Direct Rome Flight
 

The media in the West yesterday were in a collective pants wetting session over the new direct flight to Rome.

We were informed, amongst other things, that the 787 is unique among aircraft, as it flies much lower than “conventional “ aircraft.

We were also told that the Captain of the first flight had spent several months training to ensure a “smooth touch down” in Rome.

Another reporter informed us that direct Perth to Jakarta and Perth to JoBerg flights are also planned, and Qantas has ordered 299 new aircraft to cope with this expansion.

Where do they get this stuff?

Strangely .. the guru GT was not to be seen.

I would rather take a stop in Dubai, Doha or Singapore on a full service airline than go via Perth on a glorified Jetstar flight any day. Especially if its more likely my bags will arrive with me, and i am guessing lots feel the same.

Wonder what flight level they are going to operate at!! Be interesting to see how they go getting bags on an additional 299 aircraft,maybe no luggage allowed is the next game changer they have in the planning.

The 787 has always been more a dream for airline executives vs their passengers. It is uniquely attractive to those at the top for its fuel burn and ability to cram a large amount of seats in. Boeing marketed it as 8 abreast, which would have made it as comfortable as the DC10 ride back in the 70s. Then others got wind of the huge margins to be made at 9 abreast and the rest was history, including passenger comfort. I put it in the same bucket as the 10 across 777.

Emirates is trying to pull out of its 787 order and increase A350 orders. I hope they do as the future EK fleet 777/787 fleet, they will never see another dollar come from me again.

The next change to Qantas will be no passengers, to stay on time and avoid cancellations.

Funny, despite all the hate for direct Perth-Europe flights and the 787 they were the biggest money spinners pre covid and look to be even more popular post covid.

Wasn't there a rumour that you could redeem your frequent flyer points on any London flight you like - as long as it was Qf9?

Somebody i know has been trying to use FF points to get to London & been told nothing available until after October.

QANTAS frequent flyer points? If so your mate is being badly informed, there are QANTAS FF redemptions available on flights before October on QF9 and QF1.

There’s probably a very good reason for this.

Sorry to burst your GT bubble..

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/avi...cord-c-7306936

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With all their bag chucking woes atm, I guess I just assumed Qantas had hired him in as a consultant.

Well from someone that flies the A350, there is only one other commercial aircraft type that can get up and keep up with us and that is a B787. The rest squabble for lower levels at less than M.84

404 - what about the B777?

No doubt, the Pope will have already booked to visit God who runs WA.

The B777 normally cruises around M0.83-M0.84, whereas the A350 & B787 are up around M0.85. Also, the optimum cruise level at heavy weights in the 777-300ER is typically around FL290-FL310. It's not until much later in the cruise that it gets up to FL370-ish. The A350 (& presumably the B787) goes straight to FL350.

A380's not too shabby either. After a 572T takeoff it will go straight to FL330 comfortably (albeit it will take at least 250nm) and cruise along at .84+ at cost index 40.

BuzzBox,

The A350 cruises at M.85, not up to unless at lower levels. Yes typically we'll go straight to FL330-350 and by the end of a long haul end up at FL410 in a dash 1000 or FL430 in a dash 900.

I'm well aware of what it does, Capt Pedantic, having flown the thing for a number of years. My comment wasn't solely about the A350 and I did not say "up to", as you wrote.

BuzzBox

I apologise. So you didn't. The problems of reading Prune on my phone rather than my iPad.