If sitting on an airplane for nearly 19 hours is your idea of a fun time, Singapore Airlines (SIA)’s new non-stop service between Singapore and New York should be your cup of tea.
Come Oct 11, SIA will launch the world’s longest commercial flights between Changi Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Covering a distance of approximately 16,700km, the non-stop flight will take around 18 hours and 45 minutes — a route that will initially be served three times a week. Daily operations will commence only from Oct 18 onwards.
This would mean a return of the nonstop service after five years in hiatus. SIA previously flew the same nonstop service between Newark and Singapore from 2004 to 2013. The services were suspended after the aircraft used at the time — the Airbus A340-500s — were returned to Airbus.
The new class
“Singapore Airlines has always taken pride in pushing the boundaries to provide the best possible travel convenience for our customers, and we are pleased to be leading the way with these new non-stop flights using the latest-technology, ultra-long-range Airbus A350-900ULR,” said Singapore Airlines’ CEO Goh Choon Phong.
In fact, SIA is the first airline to purchase Airbus’ new aircraft models, which is said to have a fuel capacity big enough to enable 19-hour flights. The seven A350-900ULR aircraft ordered by SIA have been configured with higher ceilings, larger windows, an extra wide body and lighting designed to reduce jet lag.
The flight seems to be geared for business travelers, considering that the aircraft will only have two classes of higher-end seats — 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy class seats. The former has the ability to turn into lie-flat beds while the latter has more legroom than standard economy class seats.
The airline is also planning to use their new aircraft for non-stop Singapore-Los Angeles flights, but details will only be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the world’s longest commercial flights will be up for sale progressively from tomorrow onwards.
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