Singapore Airlines to run world's longest flight from October

Come October and Singapore Airlines will eclipse Qatar Airways as the carrier operating the longest flight in the world.

On Wednesday, May 30, the airlines said an ultra-long range version of Airbus A350-900 will fly between Singapore's Changi Airport and New York's Newark Liberty International Airport in 18 hours and 45 minutes, reviving its service which was stopped a few years earlier for economic reasons. It will be the longest route both in terms of time and distance (15,335 kilometres).

The decision to use a new fuel-efficient jet on the route was in response to its popularity with business travellers.

The flight was in operation since 2004 but was shut down in 2014 when the fuel-heavy A340-500 plane didn't make it profitable as fuel prices shot up. It then decided to operate flights till New York's JFK Airport via Frankfurt.

Singapore Airlines also has plans to revive a link to Los Angeles (14,112 km) which will another top ultra-long flight.

Currently, Qatar Airlines runs the longest flight, connecting Doha with Auckland in New Zealand, covering 14,535 km in 16 hours and 20 minutes.

Australia's Qantas is not far behind as it is considering the purchase of A350-900ULR or Boeing's 777X for launching flights from Sydney to London, covering a distance of 17,000 km-plus, ABC News reported.

Singapore Airlines also plans to use the same A350-900ULR for its planned flights to Los Angeles.