Originally Posted by
sailingfun
Ndont think the 350 is falling short of its advertised range. Most manufacturers quote range under optimum conditions. The reality is to have a reliable consistant operation you need to knock 20 yo 25% off the quoted range. 150 knot head winds can kill winter North Atlantic ranges. 5000 plus density altitudes in the summer there can have the same effect.
UA has scheduled flights very close to the advertised range of the 787. ( SFO-SIN is one example) and has several more that seem to operate within that buffer you mentioned. Similar with the 777-300ER
according to Wikipedia (I know not the most accurate) the 787-9 has a shorter range than the 359, but seems to do numerous flights for US airlines longer than LAX- SYD, a route I’ve been told our 359s may to struggle to do with a full load.
I get what you are saying, but the discrepancy between advertised and real world range seems to be unusual large on the A350. Maybe just an information bias since I work here and not somewhere else.
EDIT: I picked LAX-SYD because they are two airport with long runways close to sea level. I understand why JNB will be a challenge beyond the shear distance which is why I keep using LAX-SYD.
Another good example I would think would be JFK-BOM (a route UA flies from EWR) but since we have not restarted that one, I’m not sure if the 350 can/will fly that route.