Airbus A380 - London to Sydney direct?

Jame Gumb

Hi Folks

Newbie so please go easy...

Can a fully loaded Airbus A380 fly non stop from (say) London to (say) Sydney, and if so why don't they?

Is it because it's more economically viable to pick more passengers up somewhere in between?

Many thanks for your assistance.

Jame

PapaQuebec

Jame Gumb wrote: »

Hi Folks

Newbie so please go easy...

Can a fully loaded Airbus A380 fly non stop from (say) London to (say) Sydney, and if so why don't they?

Is it because it's more economically viable to pick more passengers up somewhere in between?

Many thanks for your assistance.

Jame

Simple answer.....

.... No

Frynge

short answer no

a380 has a max design range of 9,500 miles and london to sydney is in excess of 10,500 miles.

maybe in the future if the range was increased by about 20% that may change.

i know i would rather just two flights to australia (dub-lhr, lhr-syd)

Jame Gumb

Thanks Folks

L1011

Frynge wrote: »

i know i would rather just two flights to australia (dub-lhr, lhr-syd)

DUB-DXB-SYD or DUB-AUH-SYD not acceptable?

N7777G

Jame Gumb wrote: »

Hi Folks

Newbie so please go easy...

Can a fully loaded Airbus A380 fly non stop from (say) London to (say) Sydney, and if so why don't they?

Is it because it's more economically viable to pick more passengers up somewhere in between?

Many thanks for your assistance.

Jame

Flight time is a wee bit too long!
Have a look at this site (Great Circle routes):-

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=LHR-SYD&MS=wls&DU=mi&SG=450&SU=mph

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Slightly off topic but heard a conversation over the radio between ATC and an unknown aircraft. This was over Bordeaux.

ATC asked the pilot to confirm his destination.
He stated Melbourne, Australia.
ATC asks what the flight duration was.
21 hours responds the pilot! :eek:

Holy crap that's long!
He went on to mention they had 4 crew but didn't get to hear what aircraft type it was. Possibly some business jet!?

globemaster1986

Not possible non stop, they must be refuelling somewhere. No idea where that flight originated but from Bordeaux to Melbourne is 9,207nm. Current biz jets don't have that range:

7X - 5,950nm
GLEX - 6,325nm
G550 - 6,750nm
A319CJ - 6,500nm
737BBJ - 6,200nm

and to get that range they have to compromise on payload, speed etc etc.

Maybe a widebody VIP could do it but not that many of those about bar Abramovich, Amiri Flights etc

drdeadlift

Didnt tony blair fly from Belgium to Australia direct on a ba 772er not too sure exact airports

drdeadlift

globemaster1986 wrote: »

Not possible non stop, they must be refuelling somewhere. No idea where that flight originated but from Bordeaux to Melbourne is 9,207nm. Current biz jets don't have that range:

7X - 5,950nm
GLEX - 6,325nm
G550 - 6,750nm
A319CJ - 6,500nm
737BBJ - 6,200nm

and to get that range they have to compromise on payload, speed etc etc.

Maybe a widebody VIP could do it but not that many of those about bar Abramovich, Amiri Flights etc

A340-200/500 biz jet?

globemaster1986

Ya would probably have to be an A340, 777 or 747 type. I doubt even Abramovich's 767 is capable of that kind of range.

Mister Jingles

Would the A345 or 772ER be able to do London to Sydney ?

pclancy

There's also this point to consider...who wants to sit in an economy airline seat for 24 hours or however long the LHR-SYD journey would take.

The 12-13 hour legs I've done have been horrible enough, I'm tall and couldnt tolerate any more and when I do it again I'm going to knock myself out with sleeping tablets. I'd much rather a stopover then one long leg. Imagine the dangers of DVT from sitting for that long!

Davidth88

pclancy wrote: »

There's also this point to consider...who wants to sit in an economy airline seat for 24 hours or however long the LHR-SYD journey would take.

The 12-13 hour legs I've done have been horrible enough, I'm tall and couldnt tolerate any more and when I do it again I'm going to knock myself out with sleeping tablets. I'd much rather a stopover then one long leg. Imagine the dangers of DVT from sitting for that long!

You beat me to it...... I think the longest legs ( and I stand to be corrected ) are Jo'berg to the US and Singapore to Newark and certainly the latter is business class only .... ( I would love to try that one )

Skuxx

Davidth88 wrote: »

You beat me to it...... I think the longest legs ( and I stand to be corrected ) are Jo'berg to the US and Singapore to Newark and certainly the latter is business class only .... ( I would love to try that one )

Yeah Newark to Singapore, 18.5 hours!!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Airlines_Flight_21

pclancy

Even in business class you're arse is still going to be sore after 18.5 hours, no matter how many courses of gourmet food and wine you can stuff down your throat

Skuxx

pclancy wrote: »

Even in business class you're arse is still going to be sore after 18.5 hours, no matter how many courses of gourmet food and wine you can stuff down your throat

Anyone guess the price??

€3,770 one way

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globemaster1986 wrote: »

Not possible non stop, they must be refuelling somewhere. No idea where that flight originated but from Bordeaux to Melbourne is 9,207nm. Current biz jets don't have that range:

7X - 5,950nm
GLEX - 6,325nm
G550 - 6,750nm
A319CJ - 6,500nm
737BBJ - 6,200nm

and to get that range they have to compromise on payload, speed etc etc.

Maybe a widebody VIP could do it but not that many of those about bar Abramovich, Amiri Flights etc

Could quite possibly have been a delivery flight. We were in Bordeaux airspace heading east (over Toulouse) so could have been an empty Airbus.

The fact that the ATC enquired into their flight duration out of his own curiosity makes me think it was a non-stop flight.

stopthepanic

Heathrow to Sydney non stop in 1989. no pax, special fuel, galley equipment removed but impressive non the less.

http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Qantas%201st%20England-Aust%20non-stop%201989.htm

cocoshovel

pclancy wrote: »

Even in business class you're arse is still going to be sore after 18.5 hours, no matter how many courses of gourmet food and wine you can stuff down your throat

This. I was just about to go mad after an 11.5 hour flight + a 1.5 hour flight connection. No way in hell would I go on anything longer.