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QF & QR DETHRONED: Singapore Airlines to launch world's longest flight to NEW YORK

Just as you were getting used to the idea of spending 17 hours on a non-stop Qantas flight to London, Singapore Airlines upped the ante by adding another two hours on direct flights to New York.

Just as you were getting used to the idea of spending 17 hours on a non-stop Qantas flight to London, Singapore Airlines upped the ante by adding another two hours on direct flights to New York.

That’s right, in a few months the world will have a new longest route and it will run for a grand total time of… 18 hours and 45 minutes.

18 hours and 45 minutes! On a plane! On a plane for 18 hours and 45 minutes! Did anyone else just get a little short of breathe?

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The carrier announced the non-stop Singapore-New York (Newark Liberty International Airport) service this week, saying it would take off on 11 October 2018 via the carrier’s A350-900ULR.

Initially, flights will operate three times weekly on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and increase to daily from 18 October when the carrier receives an additional A350 aircraft.

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Flights will cover a distance of approximately 16,700km, which is almost 2,000km more than Qantas‘ 14,498km service from Perth to London.

To ensure guests don’t go completely mad during the near-19-hour flight, Singapore Airlines and Airbus have removed Economy Class from the aircraft and equipped it with only 67 Business Class and 94 Premium Economy seats.

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Higher ceilings and larger windows have been added to the A350 to give flyers a sense of spaciousness along with lighting designed to reduce jetlag and carbon composite airframe designed to improve air quality.

Singapore Airlines’ Chief Executive, Goh Choon Phong, said the new service will offer customers “the fastest way” to travel between the two cities and expects it to be popular among Southeast Asian travellers as well as Australians who’ll appreciate it as the fastest one-stop flight from the West Coast of Australia to the East Coast of America.

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“The non-stop Singapore-Newark flights will deliver convenience, comfort and a premium service for passengers travelling from Perth to New York via Singapore.”

Goh Choon Phong, Singapore Airlines Chief Executive

Singapore Airlines is also planning non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles, which will be announced at a later date.

 

READ: Here’s 17 things that’ll get you through a 17 hour+ flight

READ: Travellers can book Singapore flights through Skyscanner

READ: SQ to absorb regional off-shoot

What would you do with 18 hours and 45 minutes on a plane?