Yumm! Short routes are the best... a real challenge when ATC is running approaches... this is how I fly my 737. I'll probably get the 777 because it's made by PMDG but that's the only reason hehe

Before the merge UA was flying UA 003 OGG-KOA then on to ORD ....yes folks 15 minutes...beat that. LOL

ANU 07-SKB 25, 13 Minutes airborne wheels off to wheels on.

LLBG-LGRP ELY5031/5033 1:07

LTBA-LLBG THY790/794 1:50

Many years ago, when BA still ran their EGLL to EGAA (Belfast Aldergrove) service they occasionally used a 747-200 for a few flights on the days preceding Christmas. That no longer happens, of course, since BA gave up the route in the mid-1980s. It has recently started an EGLL-EGAC (Belfast City) service but I doubt they will try 747s! They'd have a job getting a heavily loaded A321 airborne there.

Sometimes it makes sense to throw a large capacity aircraft on a route. It happens all the time during vacation months. I remember I flew in a 777 from IAD-MIA back in the late 90s because they needed the extra capacity on the route. Most of the time, though, people don't bend on time convenience on short routes. If it's a short flight, it's "why should I have to wait?" If it's a long flight, it's "well, I'm on the thing for 14 hours anyway, so departure time is departure time."

 

We've had this discussion before in the 747 context and a bunch of people weighed in with routes. To your basic point, at least in the U.S. there are not a lot of non-cargo flights with big planes. There's a few U.A. flights in and out DEN to other cities that fit that. One I used to fly a great deal was a BA flight from LFMN to EGLL that it did with a 747 in the summer, presumably for beach goers. They've changed to an A320, I think.

 

To your larger point about simmers doing small=short, big=long, that is the way it is, and there are things in larger planes for long flights that don't show up on short flights or at all in smaller planes, such as shutting fuel valves, etc. So, at some level it makes sense. Me, I don't have time to fly long routes any longer, so I tend to do short routes and tend to fly the J41 a lot. Part of that is that the smaller planes also tend to be faster to turn. I can get a J41 in the air by the manual with a full checklist and programming (minus the fake walkaround) in about 10 minutes. The 747 is at least twice that for the same flight.

Me, I don't have time to fly long routes any longer, so I tend to do short routes and tend to fly the J41 a lot.

 

Yeah, me too. Then again, I like flying the J-41 around where I actually fly.

 

Speaking of, I flew into HEF last Tuesday. Repaving the runway or lengthening it?

In any case, it's really changed since the last time I've been in there. Sad to see the old CJC birds just sitting there over by the old base.

Emirates is flying 40+ min routes on theT7. Quite a few on the 2-3 hours mark as well. Loads? Always full of course

Emirates is crazy - largest B777 and A380 fleet I believe. They use them on the shortest routes - do they ever run out of money?

Emirates is crazy - largest B777 and A380 fleet I believe. They use them on the shortest routes - do they ever run out of money?

 

Their fleet overlap and inefficiency makes me cringe...

Because when you charge large figures to people flying in their first class pods, you can fly a 4 engine plane 200 NM for kicks.

Because when you charge large figures to people flying in their first class pods, you can fly a 4 engine plane 200 NM for kicks.

 

I fly the inter gulf routes a lot,mainly OBBI-OTBD which is around 20mins (80nm) I can tell you these aircraft are packed with people going shopping for the day in Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi & also a lot of business travelers. can also tell you the flights are very cheap.

 

Could say a lot about how some of these gulf carriers work and it's no secret that they work the flight crew to the limit, but when it comes to price,fleet and amount of flights they can't be beat. Most of the Gulf Carriers 777 & A330/340's used on shorthaul routes are configured for max capacity, Luxury pods etc are for the aircraft used on the ultra longhaul routes

 

Had a look online the other day since I wanted to travel from Heathrow to Scotland for the day, looked at BA's website, me and my girlfriend just laughed and then closed the browser.

wasn't JAL using 747's on internal flights...seem to remember one going down when the rear section fell off after bad repair following a tailstrike.

 

steve-0

wasn't JAL using 747's on internal flights

 

Yes. There is a 747-400D (d for domestic).

High density config for high capacity routes. Looks just like a regular -400, but no winglets.

 

The one in the accident you're referring to was a -100 in a high density config, however. Similar concept.

Asiana Airlines is using their A330's 747-400's on the route from Osaka Kensai to Seoul Incheon.

The flight takes about one hour and twenty minutes.