ntic trends
DESTINATIONS SMALL PLANES | AVIATION
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travelweekly.co.uk
ot so long ago, the Boeing 747, affectionately known as the Jumbo Jet, was the emblem of
transatlantic flight. Then the Superjumbo came along: the double-decker Airbus A380 could carry more than 500 passengers, beating the 747 for capacity. For a while it looked like the big planes
that provided extra comfort and reassurance in the skies were here to stay. But – thanks to developments in aircraft technology – smaller aircraft can travel farther. And today, a new generation of smaller planes is already ferrying passengers across the Atlantic.
SMALLER PACKAGES While the twin-engine Boeing 777 was an established long-range aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 – which took their first flights in 2009 and 2013 respectively – revolutionised the market. These modern, more fuel-efficient aircraft appealed to airlines for their economic benefits – in comparison with the ageing 747s that started flying passengers in 1970 – and paved the way for smaller aircraft.
In 2021, following a decline in
orders, Boeing announced it was ceasing production of the 747, while Emirates took the final delivery of the A380 in 2021. Airlines are increasingly using smaller
planes’ efficiency to market their aircraft choices – which will no doubt appeal to clients seeking to minimise their carbon footprint. Tui was the launch customer of the
Boeing 787 Dreamliner back in 2013, and the line continues to fly it today. A Tui spokesperson said: “Dreamliners are more environmentally friendly than other aircraft, using 20% less fuel. The 787-9 can travel a farther 830 kilometres in the same energy-efficient manner.” Tui flies direct long-haul flights from seven UK airports, including Newcastle, Birmingham and Edinburgh, crossing the Atlantic to Orlando, Florida. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic and BA have introduced a number of Airbus A350s to their fleets in the past couple of years, flying routes such as Heathrow-LA and Heathrow-Las Vegas, respectively. Arguably, more²
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