Can the renewed interest in ultra-long-range passenger flights be satisfied by the current generation of civil aircraft?

Glenn S Baxter,Nicholas S Bardell

doi:10.3846/16487788.2017.1336485

Abstract

A number of full service network carriers have recently stated their ambition to develop certain ultra-long-range (ULR) routes, such as Doha to Auckland, Dubai to Auckland, Dubai to Panama City, Singapore to San Francisco, Singapore to New York, all of which require a great circle distance between 7,000–9,000 nautical miles (nm) with an estimated travel time between 15 and 20 hours. This paper examines the capability of the current generation of wide-bodied passenger aircraft to satisfy this evolving strategy, and the impact, if any, on the provision of air cargo transportation. An exploratory study is presented herein based on an assessment of each aircraft type’s payload-range envelope, taken from the appropriate Aircraft Airports Handling Characteristics Manual. The key findings reveal that airlines wishing to pursue this ultra-long-range strategy have a surprisingly limited choice of current-generation passenger aircraft which are capable of flying the desired mission profile without compromising significantly on passenger numbers and cargo payload.

Highlights

Air transportation is defined as the carriage of persons, goods, property or postal mail by air
This study has examined the recent strategy of several major full service network carriers (FSNCs) to operate new ultra-long range (ULR) services from their hubs with flight distances in excess of 7,000 nm and flight durations in excess of 15 hours
The study found that airlines wishing to pursue this ultra-long-range strategy currently have a surprisingly limited choice of passenger aircraft which are capable of flying the desired mission profile without compromising significantly on passenger numbers and cargo payload

Summary

Introduction

Air transportation is defined as the carriage of persons, goods, property or postal mail by air. It comprises two primary segments, the transport of passengers and the carriage of air cargo. There is no absolute definition of ultra-long-range flight distances, primarily because aircraft performance improves over time. Nowadays it is more appropriate to define ultra-long-range (ULR) as any non-stop flight carrying an economically meaningful payload of passengers and air cargo over a distance in excess of 7,000 nm. The emerging trend for airlines to offer ULR services fills a niche market requirement for air travellers and air cargo shippers who are increasingly demanding the shortest possible journey time from their origin to their destination. By eliminating en-route intermediate stopovers, passenger facilitation is simplified by avoiding the requirement for transit documentation, and new opportunities are created for cargo transportation, benefitting the economies of the states of origin and destination

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