I used to travel on the LHR-FRA route regularly back in the early 2000s. Long taxis at FRA were common and one time I recall we taxied for 45 minutes so a 17 minute delay doesn't sound too bad!
good heavens.
Just wait til those engines are at takeoff thrust. THEN we are talking about burning tons of fuel.
Maybe you, mr. pilot, should let LH headquarters figure out how to pay the fuel bill for those beasts and your "job" is to relish in the status of flying them while they remain in the fleet.
Safety always comes first, but big jet captains also have a responsibility to operate the flight as economically as possible. As you know all too well an airline is a commercial enterprise, and wasting fuel just sitting about impacts the bottom line.
We are not talking about a 17 min queuing in a long line of departures (standard scenario). We are talking about a 17min standstill an the hold short line of the runway in first position to depart (even unusual for the US).
I've personally observed 15+ minute delays #1 at the runway as far back as 2019. This isn't new (and I'm confident it wasn't new then, either). It's not every hour or even necessarily every day, but it's long been common enough that a sudden barrage of public concern is misinformed at best, manufactured at worst.
They also have to let planes take off on Rwy 1 L/R. So while they may have been first in line on 28 other planes could also be squeezing in for take off perpendicular.
It's who-knows-how-long taxi plus 17 minutes wasted on the runway. The pilot right, that is crazy.
But, American airports are known for terrible taxis and queues and everything.
Nothing was mentioned that SFO had 2 runways closed 6 months for repairs.
The 2 main departure were closed pushing all take offs and arrivals were using same 2 runways. Also FAA told SFO no more parallel landings or departures. All flights were being delayed.
SFO has runways out for maintenance all summer and only reopened 1R 2 weeks ago (ahead of schedule!)
SFO has so much contruction that 17 mins in a heavy bank might be considered better than normal.
They ordered the plane. Deal with it.
The flight log shows landing at Munich at 5:11pm, and arrival at the gate at 5:26pm. So, it took 15 minutes to taxi to the gate. How much fuel was burned on that trip? A couple days later, it took only six minutes after landing, to get to the gate. Some days are just more efficient in Munich, than others?
Better late than never
17 minutes to a German or Swiss is a lifetime. HOWEVER... Have they ever flow out of FRA or MUC?
US controllers very often do this at US major airports. It does get frustrating and also let small aircrafts behind in line do intersection departures (understandable due to wake turbulence). I believe that they have no compassion for Foreign carriers especially A380/B747. Sometimes it is blatant they promote n give priority to US carriers....BUT at least someone actually stood up and voiced this. Most Controllers have ZERO idea of difference of fuelburn on an A380 and an ERJ145 or A320!!!
What fair for the goose is aldo fair for the Gander!!!! LH Crew.. U R RIGHT TO QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS MORE FREQUENT THAN ONE WOULD IMAGINE!!!
I get it that it is frustratiaon but that is and has been SFO for a long time! 17 minutes is nothing compared to some days..WIll SFO ever get it togethter and get all runways athat are sinking back on line-fully.??
A little German efficiency (or rather, even just interest in efficiency) would be great for American airports. But not how Americans function, apparently.