Originally Posted by
kaka
for current routes, i think its only useful for HKG-JNB when weather permits using the southerly route, and HKG-SFO/LAX for using a southernly route
otherwise its expensive money(certification) for no apparent benefit...
There isn't a reasonable route by which airspace limited by ETOPS180 is limited between HKG and the United States. A great circle route flies north of Japan and over the Aleutian Islands... flying East via Hawaii and LAX is 900 miles longer (8100 mi v 7160). And even then you don't cross the ETOPS180 zone.
Same holds true for HKG-JNB. The Great Circle route flies 2000 miles North of the zone limited by ETOPS180.