Singapore Airlines has executed the world’s longest ever non-stop flight after it completed its direct service between Singapore and New York on Friday.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900ULR took off Thursday from Changi Airport on its way to Newark Liberty International Airport, and covered the 9,000 nautical miles (9,537 miles) in 17 hours and 25 minutes. The record-setting flight took touched down on Friday at 5:24 a.m. New York time.
Singapore Airlines has previously operated the same route but abandoned it in 2013 due to high oil prices and the constraints of less economic four-engine aircraft.
Flight SQ22 departed at 15:37GMT with 150 passengers and 17 crew.
The inaugural flight from Changi Airport to Newark’s international airport, which services New York, took off amid much fanfare.
The Airbus A350-900ULR performing the route is the first of the seven on order by Singapore Airlines. Two will be used to travel to and from New Jersey while the remaining five will be used for a Singapore-Los Angeles services commencing on November 2, 2018.
Using the new ULR (ultra-long range) flights, Singapore has said that total U.S. flight frequency will increase from 40 to 53 per week by December.
