Originally Posted by
CPRich
Cost to operate.
Two modern 280 seat twin-engine flights are cheaper than a single 560 seat quad-engine flight.
It's also restricted to major airports that have the capacity (runway/taxiway width, gate height, etc.) to manage such a large aircraft. Smaller long-range twins give flexibility to connect more and more long-range smaller airports. A 380 couldn't fly Hartford-Dublin (Aer Lingus), Oakland-Stockholm (Norwegian), etc.
Can you explain the physics of your first point? I would have assumed (and I'm obviously wrong) that 2 x 280 planes = greater weight = greater energy required to overcome gravity/drag? There is a marginal increase in weight to add each additional passenger with occasional discontinuities to add additional power. An unloaded 777 costs X per km, a 777 with 280 passengers on board doesn't cost 2x
Surely (for example) a single 560 seat quad engine 380 is cheaper than 140 4-seater prop puddle jumpers?