[dajop]

Shame they can't make MEL-JNB work. It's not fun looking out the window, knowing it's going to take over 4 hours to get back to the spot directly beneath you, only 11km away ....

[browski]

Originally Posted by dajop

Shame they can't make MEL-JNB work. It's not fun looking out the window, knowing it's going to take over 4 hours to get back to the spot directly beneath you, only 11km away ....

Similarly, you'd hope someone would have a shot at Mel/Syd - Cape Town

[NYCguy]

Originally Posted by Sprucegoose

Lindsay they can be quite strong 200-350km/hr and the routing can go up to 70deg south, over parts of the pole.

A very lonely part of the world, especially if batteries needed charging or oxy tanks require refilling............

Also fire-suppression systems have to able to do their job adequately for such isolated routes. Problems for both twin and quad-engined craft.

[dajop]

Originally Posted by browski

Similarly, you'd hope someone would have a shot at Mel/Syd - Cape Town

Now that's a good idea. Not intuitive, but the tool I use puts the distance from SYD-CPT 20 miles shorter than SYD-JNB.

I guess CPT, like MEL (& countless other "second" cities, such as BCN, YUL, RIO, KUL, KIX, LED, MUC, MAN, DEL, SFO) is more of a secondary hub or destination in its own right than main hub.

[comint]

I think forming a "relationship" with an SA carrier (Kulula ?) and connecting via Durban to South Eastern Australia makes more sense XXX-DUR-MEL-XXX.

[Sprucegoose]

Originally Posted by NM

A twin jet operating a commercial service is not going to be going that far south. It haas to remain within the certified ETOPS coverage area.

Its not a twin jet. From Sydney 747 LR RR and 340-200/600 from Perth. Perth is not that far south, Sydney can be depending on winds/economics.

Regards SPRUCE

[Sprucegoose]

Originally Posted by dajop

Shame they can't make MEL-JNB work. It's not fun looking out the window, knowing it's going to take over 4 hours to get back to the spot directly beneath you, only 11km away ....

Melbourne!!! You're lucky. I fly over Perth only to have to fly back once reaching ol sydney town.

Regards SPRUCE

[NM]

Originally Posted by Sprucegoose

Its not a twin jet. From Sydney 747 LR RR and 340-200/600 from Perth. Perth is not that far south, Sydney can be depending on winds/economics.

Regards SPRUCE

v Australia are purchasing 777-300, so will not be flying that far south (was the context of my comment).

[Sprucegoose]

Originally Posted by NM

The issue is more about ETOPS requirements rather than endurance.

CX do HKG-JFK in 777-300 ER, less distance than SYD-JNB.

[dajop]

Originally Posted by Sprucegoose

CX do HKG-JFK in 777-300 ER, less distance than SYD-JNB.

You mean that HKG-JFK is more distance than SYD-JNB.

In any event, the time I flew HKG-JFK, we stayed fairly close to land for the whole journey tracking over Japan, Alaska etc. On SYD-JNB, once you get past Tasmania, there is virtually no land anywhere nearby until you reach the South African coast.