Aviation

Qantas Reroutes Perth-London Flights Over Middle East Conflict

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In response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, Australia’s flag carrier Qantas has announced a significant change to its nonstop Perth to London flight.

The ultra-long-haul service, which first launched in 2018, will no longer fly directly over Middle Eastern airspace. Instead, the flight will now make a refueling stop in Singapore before continuing to London.

Effective immediately, Qantas’ direct flight from Perth to London, which was launched in 2018 and typically spans around 17.5 hours, will now make a refueling stop in Singapore. This modification allows the aircraft to carry additional fuel and take a safer, alternative route to London.

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The move comes as a precautionary measure to circumvent potentially hazardous airspace due to the ongoing regional instability. However, the return leg from London Heathrow to Perth International Airport will remain unaffected by these changes. The direct flight will take a readjusted route back to Perth, steering clear of any conflict zones, with no need for a refueling stop thanks to favorable wind conditions.

Qantas has reassured passengers that the changes are a precautionary measure, emphasizing their commitment to safety. The airline is closely monitoring the situation and will inform customers of any further adjustments to their bookings.

This rerouting is part of a broader trend among airlines to avoid flying over conflict zones in times of regional instability. As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, particularly after recent events such as Iran’s vow to retaliate for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, airlines are increasingly cautious about their flight paths.

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While the new Perth to London route will operate via Singapore, Qantas’ other direct routes from Perth to Paris and Perth to Rome remain unchanged for now. However, the airline has not ruled out the possibility of further adjustments if the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.