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SIA stops world’s longest nonstop flight
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The world’s longest nonstop commercial flight ended without fanfare yesterday after Singapore Airlines flew its last nearly 19-hour service from New York.
Flight SQ 21 landed early yesterday in Changi Airport, bringing an end to a nine-year run. A direct service to Los Angeles has also been cancelled.
“Food and refreshments were served to customers at the airport gate hold rooms in Singapore and Newark. Customers were also presented with commemorative gift sets and certificates,” an SIA spokesman said.
Analysts said the rise in fuel prices since 2004, when the 15,335-kilometer service was launched to cater to business travellers, made it economically unsustainable.
The cancellation of the service was first announced a year ago.
Five Airbus A340-500s used by SIA for the service to New York — through neighboring Newark — are being swapped for Airbus A380 superjumbos, a larger but more fuel-efficient model that is not designed for such distances.
The 100-seat, all business-class service to New York was pricey but passengers flew in comfort and saved hours of travel time by not having to make stopovers.
A Singapore travel agency said the last list price for the New York direct service was S$14,000 (US$11,180).
“Ultra long-range routes have proven to be uneconomical, making it unlikely there will be a return of flights over 17 hours, which can only be flown by the niche A340-500 or (Boeing) 777-200LR,” the Sydney-based Center for Aviation said in a commentary in September.
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