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© AIRBUS Singapore Airlines A350-900 ULR aircraft takes off on its first test flight

The longest non-stop flight challenges in the world

Previously, it was an exclusivity of two airlines: Qatar Airways and Qantas, but now Singapore Airlines (SIA) wants a share of the select long-haul transatlantic market.The Asian company says it will offer the longest non-stop flight in operation in the world.From October this year, passengers will be able to fly from Singapore to Newark, New Jersey, United States, on a journey that will last about 19 hours.The longest nonstop flight currently available is offered by Qatar Airways.

It is a 17-hour, 30-minute journey from Auckland, New Zealand, to Doha, Qatar's capital.
This is the route from Perth (Australia) to London, which was completed at 17 hours and was offered earlier this year.
But holding the longest non-stop flight title was no easy task for SIA.From 2004 to 2013, the company offered the same service from Changi Airport in Singapore to Newark International Airport in New Jersey.But an increase in oil prices, among other factors, has made the Airbus A345-500 very expensive to drive.The route was canceled and, fortunately for the airline, the aircraft were returned to the manufacturer, Airbus. The Australian company Qantas already has the second longest flight.

 © EPA Qantas uses Dreamliner 787-9 for their Perth-London route.

What has changed?
SIA is about to acquire a new model from Airbus, which will make the route between Singapore and Newark commercially viable again.
The A350-900 ULR (ultra long range) belongs to the long-range Airbus family.
It is a twin-engine aircraft designed to replace the old Boeing 777.
Airbus recognizes that the new aircraft uses about 25% less fuel than the old model.
Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong) and Singapore Airlines already operate several such aircraft.
But the A350-900 ULR aircraft have been modified to meet the requirements of the nonstop route between Singapore and Newark.
According to Sean Lee, Airbus spokesman in Singapore, these airplanes are the ones that can now make long routes.
"They can fly up to 9,700 nautical miles without stops, which are more than 20 hours flying, and they can do so because we have modified the existing fuel system so they can carry 2While some passengers would resist the idea of being in heaven most of the day, of course there are those who prefer to avoid stopovers, even if it means traveling in economy class.
Most passengers aboard Qantas's inaugural flight between Perth and London told the BBC that they enjoyed the trip immensely.
In a statement, Qantas said its Perth-London route "is working very well in all classes, including economic ones."4,000 liters of fuel."

What will the future be?
Record passenger flight distance was beaten in 2005 when a Boeing aircraft completed, at 22 hours and 22 minutes, 21,602 km from Hong Kong to London by the longest route - across the Pacific Ocean, the United States and the Atlantic Ocean .Thomas, of Airlineratings.com, was on board with 35 other passengers."It was very nice," he says. "Like other executive travelers, I hate having to make stops.""There is evidence that when an airline offers a nonstop flight, traffic on this route triples."Airbus and Boeing are currently working on a project called Qantas Sunrise, which would allow the Australian airline to ferry 300 passengers from Sydney to London or New York nonstop.The route was described as the last frontier of aviation.In addition, Airbus is considering building sleeping capsules in the aircraft's cargo area, similar to sleeping cabins that are allowed to crew members on some long-haul flights.Other areas of the aircraft may even become conference rooms or play areas for children.

There are rumors that Air New Zealand wants to buy a plane to make the non-stop route between Auckland and New York.

bbc.com