Polar routes

[The Lawspeaker]

Well, technically yes, specially for North America-Europe routes, but all routes to Asia would still have to go over Russia and China.

Or via the Middle East then ? During the Cold War flights to Japan went via the North Pole as well (via Anchorage), I think that flights to India and the SEA region went via the Middle East.

[Smaug]

Or via the Middle East then ? During the Cold War flights to Japan went via the North Pole as well (via Anchorage), I think that flights to India and the SEA region went via the Middle East.

It could be, but I believe the reasons why one would want to avoid flying over Russia or China also apply to the Middle East, if you know what I mean. I think Anchorage would be a better choice. Many freighter aircraft (which have different ETOPS) still use Anchorage as a hub, so I think it would be possible to do the same with passenger liners.

[The Lawspeaker]

It could be, but I believe the reasons why one would want to avoid flying over Russia or China also apply to the Middle East, if you know what I mean. I think Anchorage would be a better choice. Many freighter aircraft (which have different ETOPS) still use Anchorage as a hub, so I think it would be possible to do the same with passenger liners.

That might also work for flights to the SEA region, India or even Australia ? I can imagine that flight times could become as high as 23, 24 hours from Amsterdam to Manila then ? But it might also be shorter as I am now wasting my time on lay-overs in Dubai or Istanbul . A one-hour stop KLM flight over Russia, China and Taiwan (stop in Taipei) used to be 13.5. So with a direct flight it may well become the same I now have.

[Smaug]

That might also work for flights to the SEA region, India or even Australia ? I can imagine that flight times could become as high as 23, 24 hours from Amsterdam to Manila then ? But it might also be shorter as I am now wasting my time on lay-overs in Dubai or Istanbul . A one-hour stop KLM flight over Russia, China and Taiwan (stop in Taipei) used to be 13.5. So with a direct flight it may well become the same I now have.

Well, Qantas used to have a direct non-stop flight from Sydney to London, and it was about +20h long. They even had to carry extra pilots so they could shift the crew mid-flight. I belive that an Amsterdan-Manilla direct non-stop flight would be around 17h to 18h long.

[The Lawspeaker]

Well, Qantas used to have a direct non-stop flight from Sydney to London, and it was about +20h long. They even had to carry extra pilots so they could shift the crew mid-flight. I belive that an Amsterdan-Manilla direct non-stop flight would be around 17h to 18h long.

That's not much more than now then. It really shouldn't raise costs then. Plus: we'd be flying over more stable (and befriended) countries. Funny that there is talk of moving the national airport out to sea. I'd say that if the government had some balls, they would opt for just that and prepare the new airport to be used by planes like the A380 on a polar route - of course nothing would change when it comes to flights to the Eastern Seaboard.

[Smaug]

That's not much more than now then. It really shouldn't raise costs then. Plus: we'd be flying over more stable (and befriended) countries. Funny that there is talk of moving the national airport out to sea. I'd say that if the government had some balls, they would opt for just that and prepare the new airport to be used by planes like the A380 on a polar route - of course nothing would change when it comes to flights to the Eastern Seaboard.

I made a quick research and it seems that the current longest non-stop direct flight is between Manilla and New Jersey. It is a +18h flight, so yes, I think a Manilla-Amsterdam flight would be around that too. Also, it would be amazing if they moved AMS to the sea. They have already done that in Hong Kong if I'm not mistaken. A great way to save land.

[The Lawspeaker]

I made a quick research and it seems that the current longest non-stop direct flight is between Manilla and New Jersey. It is a +18h flight, so yes, I think a Manilla-Amsterdam flight would be around that too. Also, it would be amazing if they moved AMS to the sea. They have already done that in Hong Kong if I'm not mistaken. A great way to save land.

The responsible minister is still to present her research. It was due for this week so she better gets going. The population pressure around Amsterdam (and the problems caused by AMS) are enormous so the sooner they still building it out to sea, the better it is. Better yet: they should build it somewhere near the port of Rotterdam: get all the muck in one place but I am sure people won't be so logical again. It might raise costs though but that doesn't hurt me since I now tend to fly from either Dusseldorf or Frankfurt anyway.