Originally Posted by
wxguy
The weight restriction referral is for the pmCO 777-200ER, not the new 777-300ER (77W). When there are strong headwinds EWR-HKG (and other similar VLR flights), the 772 is loaded with less freight and occasionally fewer passengers so it can avoid doing a fuel stop enroute. On rare occasion, the winds are stronger than forecast and a tech stop for fuel is required.
As a 772 captain once said to me on this flight, "We nearly always run out of water and come close to running out of fuel. Thankfully, not the other way around."
Isn't it also true that during some hot summer months, the departure time of EWR-HKG is delayed to compensate for those shortcomings? I recall on some really hot days, it was pushed to the evening hours...