The political game is often about distance. Distance from the electorate. Distance from reality. Now British Airways is playing with a different kind of distance. A new ultra-long-range A350 is set to make 20-plus hour non-stop flights a reality. This is not a drill. This is a direct flight from London to Perth, and soon to Sydney. The jet set are licking their lips. The environmentalists are reaching for the smelling salts. And the Treasury is quietly noting the economic implications.
Let's get one thing straight. This is about power. The power to connect. The power to bypass traditional hubs. Dubai, Doha, Singapore. They all lose some of their lustre when you can fly direct. British Airways is making a play. A smart one. The A350 is efficient. It sips fuel compared to the old birds. But 20 hours in a metal tube? That is a test of human endurance. And a test of the airline's premium product. Business class will be sold out. Economy? A different story. The political class will be watching. They always do when travel patterns shift.
There is a backbench rebellion brewing. Quietly. MPs from marginal constituencies are nervous. Their constituents do not fly to Perth. They take the train to Leeds. They worry about the carbon footprint. The Prime Minister is caught. He wants to be seen as green. But he also wants to be seen as pro-business. This flight is a symbol. A symbol of global Britain. A symbol of the elites. The voters will notice. The lobby will whisper. The memo will be circulated.
And the polling data? Mixed. Older voters, the ones who actually vote, remember the glory days of air travel. They like the idea. Younger voters, the ones who protest, they hate it. The Cabinet is split. The Transport Secretary is a known aviation enthusiast. The Environment Secretary is a known sceptic. Expect a tug of war. Expect leaks. Expect the usual Westminster theatrics.
The real story here is the cost. Not just the ticket price. The cost to the planet. The cost to the airline. The cost to the taxpayer. Because if this flight fails, BA will come cap in hand. If it succeeds, others will follow. The race is on. The game is afoot. And Eleanor Rigby will be watching from her dark corner of the pub. Whisky in hand. Notes in the other. Because in the end, it is all about the game. And this game has just got a lot longer.
