At the time of design, twinjet aircraft were not considered suitable for transpacific flights, so the NLA was designed with a four-jet layout (two on each wing), much like the 747 or A380.[6] Long-haul flights such as Sydney to Dubai or London to New York can take anywhere from 8 to 14 hours. The four engines would help provide the power necessary to make these long trips safely. Because the project was designed with the goal of beating competitors based on sheer passenger volume, the NLA was designed with a full-length two deck configuration.