Singapore Airlines Takes on the Big Sky Again
Strap in, folks – Singapore Airlines (SIA) is gearing up to reclaim the title of “longest commercial flight” after a five‑year hiatus. From Thursday night onward, the airline will launch a near‑19‑hour non‑stop leg from Singapore to New York, and it’s not stopping there.
New & Not‑So‑New Routes
- NYC to Singapore – a 19‑hour marathon that will beat the world’s previous record.
- San Francisco to Singapore – slated for next month, adding another stretch to the US schedule.
- Los Angeles to Singapore – SIA has plans to bring back non‑stop service to this city.
Flights, Seats, and No Economy
To support the growth, the carrier has ordered seven ultra‑long‑range Airbus A350‑900ULR planes. Each jet will be loaded with 161 business and premium‑economy seats – no economy seats at all. That’s a deliberate play on the high‑yield market that Singapore pridefully serves.
History Check
Remember 2013? Singapore Airlines knocked out its nonstop services to Newark and Los Angeles because the four‑engine Airbus A340‑500s were a cost‑heavy nightmare. Since then it’ve taken the more circuitous route: NYC via Frankfurt, and LA via Tokyo or Seoul.
Americas Income Declines
Corrine Png, CEO of Crucial Perspective, points out that revenue from the Americas is now just 14% of total, down from 20% in 2013. Losing those nonstop legs hit the book.
“Flying trans‑Pacific connects us to stiff competition, pulling away high‑yield business traffic,” she says. “We expect SIA to claw back market share, especially in the premium segment.”
Fuel Prices: A Whispering Challenge
Brent crude is hovering around $85 per barrel, while 2013’s peak was about $119, meaning a 27% lift this year. That affects everyone who relies on fuel quotas.
Competition & Premium Demand
- United Airlines also offers nonstop flights from Singapore to San Francisco.
- Other players such as Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong) and EVA Airways (Taiwan) still fly one‑stop routes.
- Nonstop ultra‑long haul flights can command a ~20% ticket premium versus stopovers, especially enticing biz travelers.
- SIA’s initial fares are surprisingly low – a premium‑economy round‑trip to Newark can dip to S$1,438 (US$1,040), according to CAPA.
Brendan Sobie cautions that “the first few weeks will tell if this stint into the US will turn a profit, especially with fierce competition, rising fuel costs, and the challenge of filling the elite seats on those 350‑900ULRs.”
World‑Record Players
Even a little longer than SIA’s planned route, Qatar Airways is eyeing the Doha–Auckland leg as the world’s longest. And Qantas might step up the ante with a 20‑hour Sydney‑London journey slated for 2022.
Take‑away
SIA’s revival of nonstop US flights is a bold gamble, balancing ticket price slashes with a premium seat strategy. If the market’s robust enough and the economy stays firm, the Singapore‑Newark leg could become the new gold standard for ultra‑long travel. Hang tight, world‑travellers – the sky just got a little longer.
