SINGAPORE – Singapore Airlines said on Wednesday that it will relaunch theworld’s longest commercial flight in October, a journey of almost 19 hoursfrom the city-state to New York, but it will not be available to economytravellers.
The daily, non-stop journey from Changi to Newark Airport will cover about16,700 kilometres and take about 18 hours 45 minutes, the airline said in astatement.
The Singapore Airlines flight will use the long-range Airbus A350-900ULR,which will be configured to carry 161 passengers – 67 in business class and94 in premium economy.
The airline had flown a similar route from 2004 until 2013 but cancelled itas it fell short of revenue expectations. However, its latest decisioncomes as carriers look for new sources of revenue in a competitiveenvironment, while long-haul flights often make more cash than those thatrequire stops.
There are also plans for a non-stop route from Singapore to Los Angelesusing the same plane, the airline said. – APP/AFP