The Polar Express! Airlines can now take short cuts over North Pole

PA

Long-haul flights to exotic destinations will be dramatically shorter - and cheaper- after new rules will allow planes to take a short cut through the North Pole for the first time.

According to the Daily Mail, until now, Boeing's 777 and new 787 Dreamliner jets have to stay within a three-hour range of the nearest airport for safety reasons.

But improvements in engine technology have seen this doubled to five and a half hours in new 'extended operations' rules, meaning planes from the UK will be able to take non-stop flights over the North Pole to holiday destinations like Hawaii, Alaska and French Polynesia.

The decision has been hailed by Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson as 'opening up a whole new world', while Capt. David Morgan, chief pilot for Air New Zealand said: "What this means is that the aeroplane is able to fly a straighter route between pairs of cities and that's good for the environment.

'Less fuel is burned and less carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere. It's also good for customers because flights are potentially shorter and passengers could arrive sooner at their destinations."

Many journeys from London could see flight times cut, including Fiji's 23 hours via LA or Seoul, which could now be non-stop in 18 hours.

Tahiti's 23 hours via LA could now be 17 hours, and Honolulu via LA in 17 hours will take 13 hours.

All aboard the Polar Express!

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