Or by the fact that airlines need adequate performance to suit their needs rather than ultimate performance!

Cathay we looking for an adequate performance not an ultimate performance, one of the problems was the MZFW was over 2 tonnes heavier than Airbus had quoted, therefore we couldn’t get the required fuel loading and subsequently not being able to use the aircraft for the proposed plan.

Question – why do Virgin use the A346 over the B744 on the LHR-HKG route? Because the B744 hasn’t got the carrying capability we need. !

We use the 744 because we are so damn busy on this route (3 times a day, maybe going 4 times a day) so we need an aircraft capable of carrying 400 people. The 340 hasn’t got the pax carrying capability of the 744.

I take it you mean cargo carrying capability over pax. As we have a freight business as well, we send a fleet of freighters to London to maximize our profit. 😉

Cathay weren’t too happy with the 600 as Airbus quotes one figure but the aircraft performs to another figure, usually a lower than quoted figure. Not good.

The 600 was taken off the LAX route to mainly serve on the HKG-JFK route which was running behind schedule by approx 1 year as it didn’t perform how it was quoted so some modifications we introduced. Now things seem to be a little better but we have had some technical issues recently with them. Will they get rid of them?? I don’t know!

We have been looking at the 777-300ER so we will have to wait and see. We have just bought 8 second hand 744 for the pax and cargo fleet so expansion is the way forward at the moment.

Cathay Pacific are also in the process of buying 9.9% stake in China Airlines. Seems there all at it right now.

That’s what they’re paid for. “Just another day in the office.”

I wouldn’t say “just another day in the office”
Someting we are trained to do on a regular basis but not an every day occurance….. 😉

Good job by the crew. Cold bay is a little rmote and not what most pilots are used to.

A ture gem. The 747 rocks.

what me!!!!!!!!!!!!!no