Reply #6: I'm something of an aviation buff.

[cobalt1999]

As for the more planes to fly, you are forgetting one major component of the equation. The jumbo Airbus can only land at a handful of airports, requiring more connections. So, if you want to go from Melbourne to San Francisco you have two choices.

1) A direct flight on the 787
2) Fly to Sydney, take the Airbus to LA and then connect to San Fran.

With option #2, you've taken 3 flights.

Again, the 787 is designed around the strategy of providing more point to point flights BYPASSING the mega-hubs.