Singapore’s ultra-long-haul

Flights of 19hr covering 15,300km, the world’s longest, are on the way back from Singapore Airlines once it takes delivery of a new ultra-long range Airbus in 2018.

The airline says the A350-900ULR will enable it to operate non-stop service between Singapore and both Los Angeles and New York. Nonstops to other US destinations are also being considered.

Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive, Singapore Airlines said customers had been asking the carrier to restart non-stops to the US.

“We are pleased that Airbus was able to offer the right aircraft to do so in a commercially viable manner,” he added.

The carrier stopped the 19hr trip to New York Newark by A340-500 in 2013, a decision that added about 5hr to travel between the cities. The all-Business Class flights were said to be not profitable with four-engine aircraft.

Singapore Airlines is now to take delivery of seven ultra-long range planes optimised for non-stop flights to the US.

The aircraft will have a modified system to increase fuel-carrying capacity, an increase in maximum take-off weight and other aerodynamic improvements, Airbus said.

The world’s current longest flight is Qantas’ Sydney – Dallas service, which uses the A380.   www.singaporeair.com   www.airbus.com    www.qantas.com

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