What is the most economical flight plan from toronto to sydney, australia?

Question

This is based on distance and prevailing wind pattern.

Someone please help me, this project is due soon, and i have no idea!

Answer 1

I typed in New York (would not accept Toronto) to Sydney on Travelocity/Yahoo Travel and "booked" the cheapest and fastest round trip.  The southwest flight to Sydney takes 22 hr 15 m. with a stop in Los Angeles.  The return trip northeast takes 21 hrs 0 m. with a stop in Los Angeles.  

The westbound plane takes 45 minutes longer than the returning eastbound plane.  Eastern flights are faster than western flights.  Most wind patterns blow west to east.  

Planes travel at around 500 mph.  Westbound flights can face winds up to 100 mph causing them to lose speed.

Toronto to Sydney

The total distance from Toronto to Sydney is 9,670 m (15,562 km).

The plane loses about 15 mph when traveling west into prevailing winds.

The flight to Sydney is about 20 hrs. This assumes an average air speed for a commercial airliner of 500 mph, which is equivalent to 805 km/hr.

The return trip to Toronto traveling east would take only about 19 hrs 15m.

Answer 2

Air Canada is now flying (Feb 2008) the new Boeing Worldliner from Vancouver to Sydney. The airplane is capable of flying from Toronto to Sydney, but they haven't added that flight yet.

    The great circle route from Toronto to Sydney goes very close to Denver and Los Angeles, so there is not a great loss of time by stopping in one of those cities. I would say it is the most economical flight plan right now is to stop in LA.