Just did a 6 hr 50 mins flight inside a 737 from panama to sao paulo. While I am impressed with the 737 ng range, I do think that is not the best plane for such a long haul. Airline perspective might differ of course as they chase the bottom line.
The single isle and only two restrooms are insufficient for 150 give or take pax. Constantly the restroom was occupied and the center isle was a constant traffic jam.
I know the 37 max is coming. Do airlines plan on stretching the distance even further??

Rgs

Patrick

They have that flight from toronto to buenos aires. Toronto panama, panama buenos aires, both 737 legs, about 7 hours each. Ive never taken it.

I doubt that passenger comfort is even on the list of considerations when selecting aircraft.

Oh it's coming alright. Long flights in single aisle airplanes are the pits. I did a Pisa trip last year in a 757. It was over 9 hours coming back. We had to divert on the way in because a big thunderstorm was over the field and we didn't have the gas to hold very long. The 737 is efficient, but so painful for the long hauls. I don't ever plan on bidding to that thing.

757 was used on the ASU MIA run. Better than the 707 used by LAP years ago but not a 767.

Has nothing to do with airframe right? It has to do with seat configuration. The Boeing Business Jet is a 737 right.......Now that is the way to go

Ya, 737 seats are narrow and barely recline

There are no "737 seats"; there are seats installed in the 737, but they are whatever seats the airline chooses, installed however the airline chooses. The same companies make seats for all commercial aircraft.

(1) The 737 is the same fuselage barrel as the globe spanning 707.

(2) The 737/757 seats 3 + 3 while the 767 seats 2 + 3 + 2 so you get your extra aisle with the addition of just one extra seat per row. Now push all that through the air at .82 Mach burning the fuel through two fuel lines the size of a small firehose.

(3) There are two guys upfront who are stretched over the rack for seven hours in the saddle to make this all work.

(4) The bottom line is the paying passenger isn't willing to pay an extra five bucks on his airline ticket for his five thousand dollar vacation.

been there done that quite a few times and I have a lot to say

I take the MOntevideo (uruguay) to Panama flight on a monthly basis and I believe that is the longest 737 flight at aprox 7hs 15mins.

The 737s of Copa have outstanding comfort up in business as well as in chicken class. They are more than adequate for this length of flight for this region especially considering the alternatives ... trust me I´ve been commuting north to south america for the past 20+ years.

Alternatives to this 737 hub and spoke of COpa are old (extremely old) 767s from American or 777 from Aeromexico or all sorts of other crap airlines. The best for comfort is newer LAN 767s via Santiago de Chile, the rest is rubish for the southern cone, but schedules arent great (long wait in Santiago for connections)

Copa´s operation in Panama is flawless in many ways, when they finish the new airport it will be without a doubt the best hub for latin america.

I agree that copa runs a good show. i have flown them to Buenos aires, montevideo and cordova arg. However, this time around I couldn't get up front, were I don't mind the long flight.
I do think they could use a bigger double aisle plane which would offer more comfort for those aboard. At least configure another bathroom on the plane, if that is possible.
Bottom line single aisle planes are seriously stretched for the 5+ hour flights.
Rgs
Patrick

I havent taken a copa 737 but the first class seats look like any other 737's... And they have nothing on the business class pods on the 767/777. You can take copa from toronto to buenos aires. Same flight lengths on air canada or copa. One is a 737 the other is a 777

I agree with the bathroom issue, but I think the comfort of the seats in chicken class (considering cleanliness, newness of the equipment and friendliness of the staff) is quite good even for long flights. Their entertainment system is also great (compared to none in American Airlines and old or terrible in other airlines). Also a 737 given it carries a lot fewer people, makes for less stressful boarding and disembark.

I would take a Copa 737 to an old 767 or 777 for those 6-7 hour legs given the options available in latin america.

I am not trying to say it´s the ideal airplane for the route, just that given all factors for the region currently it´s my favoured airline/route.

Just did 10.4 hours LAX to London in a B-737. Great ride, great flight.