Longest flight to have no economy seats
Long-haul flights half way across the globe are making a comeback even with oil prices close to their highest in four years. About six months after Qantas Airways started a direct service from Perth to London, Singapore Airlines is bringing back its 10,400-mile jump to New York on October 11, pipping Qatar Airways’ Doha-Auckland route to reclaim the title of the world’s longest commercial flight.
Advances in technology and the advent of aircraft that guzzle less and carry more fuel are helping make the Singapore route viable again, five years after $100-a-barrel oil contributed to the demise of the flight, which will take as long as 18 hours and 45 minutes. Last month, Singapore Airlines took delivery of the first of seven A350-900 Ultra Long Range aircraft that it will use on the route as well as for non-stop services to Los Angeles starting in November. Qantas has asked Boeing and Airbus SE to design planes that can fly even farther— from Sydney to London or New York. For those wincing at the idea of being cooped up for almost 19 hours in a 220foot tube at 35,000 feet, here’s what to expect on the flight from Changi Airport to Newark Liberty International: Forget cattle class. The Airbus jet that will ply the route carries a maximum of 161 passengers, compared with 253 on the airline’s existing A350900s. That means more space, with 67 flat-bed seats in a 1-21 configuration for business class and 94 premium economy places in a mostly 2-4-2 arrangement at the rear.