Qantas says Midway Atoll closure could affect Project Sunrise
By Andrew Curran.
Ultra-long-haul flights between Sydney and London operated by Qantas under its Project Sunrise banner may take even longer if Midway Atoll Airport (MDY) is no longer available as an Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) alternate airport.
The airline says a United States Government proposal to let the rarely used but strategically important airport run down and lose its (Part 139 standard) ETOPS certification could add approximately 20 minutes of flying time to an already marathon flight.
Qantas plans to start daily Sydney (SYD) – London (LHR) non-stop flights in late 2027. Current Qantas operations do not use Midway Atoll Airport when planning for diversions, but the Project Sunrise flights to London will fly north from Australia towards Alaska and will rely on Midway – based on the assumption that the A350-1000ULR is approved for 240-minute ETOPS flights.
“The availability of Midway (MDY) is required in order to maintain an optimal and operationally efficient track,” Qantas told the Federal Aviation Administration.
In addition to making a long flight longer, Qantas says devising an ETOPS-compliant routing towards Alaska without Midway Atoll would also require loading an additional 2,200 kilograms of fuel, with a consequent payload penalty equivalent to approximately 22 passengers.
“Qantas supports the continued Federal investment in, and the continued operation of, Midway Atoll Airport,” the carrier told the FAA. “Midway performs a unique and, for Qantas’ future operations, irreplaceable safety and flight-planning function, in a region where the geographic options for emergency diversion are limited.”
Qantas' Project Sunrise proposed flight path to London. Source. Qantas.
Midway Atoll's future as an ETOPS alternate airport is under a cloud
The Federal Aviation Administration has been canvassing stakeholders about Midway Atoll Airport. It needs major rehabilitation work. The early price estimate is around USD100 million. Currently, the US Government, which owns and operates the airport, spends USD5.1 million annually to maintain it.
“MDY’s runway is expected to reach a severe level of deterioration within the next five years,” the FAA says. “Additional non-airfield improvements, such as harbour upgrades to support shipment of construction materials, may also be needed.”
One option is not to undertake the work. But if the government chooses that path, the airport would soon fall below the FAA’s airport certification and ETOPS requirements. The FAA wants to know if airlines that regularly fly in that part of the world could use other ETOPS alternate airports such as Wake Island (AWK) and Majuro (MAJ).
Qantas now joins a chorus of airlines and industry stakeholders urging the US Government to pony up the cash to keep Midway Atoll compliant.
“Qantas’ flight planning assessments indicate that, should Midway be decommissioned, Wake Island Airfield would become a single point of failure for the (London) routing,” the airline says. “Aviation operations are designed to avoid reliance on single points of failure.”
“Qantas urges the FAA to fund the rehabilitation necessary for MDY to be maintained to Part 139 standards and to remain available as an EDTO alternate aerodrome.”
The red area represents the gap where coverage does not exist within the 240-minute ETOPS area of operation when Midway Atoll is unavailable. The orange track illustrates the optimal Project Sunrise routing. Source. Qantas.
Midway Atoll to play a bigger part in Qantas' future flight planning
Qantas also plans a major overhaul of its network with the arrival of new long-haul aircraft over the next few years. In addition to the A350-1000ULRs, Qantas will take delivery of standard A350-1000s and more B787s. With new aircraft flying to new destinations, Qantas says Midway Atoll will likely play a bigger role in the airline’s ETOPS future planning.
“MDY is being progressed for EDTPS alternate approval in respect of the B787-9, A350-1000 and A380 aircraft types,” the airline says.
Qantas notes that its 12-strong A350-1000ULR order and Project Sunrise programme represent a “substantial capital commitment.” The airline says any adjustments to its planned operating parameters complicate the operational and financial planning around what is already a very complicated flight.
“Compounded by ongoing geopolitical constraints on airspace availability, and the longer routings those constraints require, these impacts increase the risk to the long-term viability of Project Sunrise,” Qantas adds.
“Continued investment in MDY will support operational safety, network resilience, and fuel and emissions efficiency across the Pacific.”
Photo: Qantas.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com