New aircraft designs and inflight products are making ultra-long-haul travel possible – and even desirable.
Oct. 12, 2018, Newark, NJ. As the 9:45 AM departure time approaches, 161 passengers begin queuing up to board Singapore Airlines’ latest entry into the record books, the 9,500 mile nonstop service from Newark Liberty Airport to Singapore Changi. The inauguration of this route has been making headlines for months, billed as the world’s longest regularly scheduled commercial flight at 18 hours 45 minutes.
This flight is the latest – and the longest – in a spate of new ultralong-haul services being launched by a number of carriers worldwide. Singapore Air’s nonstop Los Angeles International to Changi service which debuted in November is another marathon, tying the flying time of the previous record-holder, Qatar’s Auckland-Doha, at 17 hours 50 minutes. Other members of the club include United SFO to SIN (17:20), Qantas with its Dallas-Sydney and Perth-London services (17:05 and 17 hours respectively), Etihad Abu Dhabi-LAX (17 hours) and Delta Atlanta-Johannesburg (16:50).
Being on board the inaugural of a new international service always has a certain excitement about it; after all, it can be a big best-foot-forward moment, not only for the carrier but also for the airports and the cities that are being connected. But there was an extra bit of electricity in the air around the much anticipated launch of SQ21.
Of course technically this was not an inaugural, but a relaunch of this, the world’s longest flight. Many frequent fliers have lamented the demise of Singapore’s earlier entry on the nonstop EWR-SIN endurance run. The service, which was launched in 2004 aboard a gas-guzzling four-engine Airbus A340, was dropped in 2013 in the shadow of $100-a-barrel oil and the resulting squeeze on profitability.
This story is from the December 2018/January 2019 edition of Business Traveler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2018/January 2019 edition of Business Traveler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Train of Thought
As Amsterdam’s airport curtails flights because of environmental impact, KLM suggests that its passengers take to the rails
Entry Level
Why travelers are waiting weeks or even months to receive a new passport or renewal
Big Wheels
American Airlines offers a TSA-approved ground service between Philadelphia and surrounding airports
Le Bon Goût
Air France partners with Michelin-starred chefs for its new menus
First Glance
United unveils new high-end seats
Ring of Fire
In October and April, solar eclipses will dazzle the United States
Just Say Know
To improve mental health, learn new skills on the road—and have fun doing it
Rebalancing Act
How Finnair CEO Topi Manner led the airline through two external crises to bring it back on track
New Look
With industry innovations and a star-studded roster of clients, designer Peter Dundas is changing the shape of fashion
Food for Thought
The pioneering Spanish restaurant EI Bulli is transformed into a museum and culinary laboratory