The longest flight in the world on SIA will not have an economic seat, Companies and Markets

Tuesday, October 9, 2018 – 08:51

[SYDNEY] Long-haul flights on the other side of the world are coming back, even with oil prices close to their highest level in four years.

About six months after the launch of a direct link between Perth and London and Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines (SIA) brings back on October 11 its 10,400-kilometer jump to New York, prompting Qatar Airways' Doha-Auckland route to reclaim the title of the world. longer commercial flight.

Advances in technology and the advent of aircraft that consume less and carry more fuel contribute to the viability of the Singapore route, five years after oil at $ 100 per barrel contributed to the end. the flight, which will take until 18 hours. and 45 minutes.

Last month, SIA received the first of seven Airbus A350-900 Ultra Long Range aircraft that it will use on the road, as well as non-stop flights to Los Angeles from November. Qantas asked Boeing and Airbus to design planes capable of flying even further, from Sydney to London or New York.

For those who grin to the idea of ​​being locked up for nearly 19 hours in a tube from 220 feet to 35,000 feet, here is what to expect on the flight from the airport of Changi at Newark Liberty International:

MORE SPACE

Forget the class of cattle. The Airbus aircraft that will carry the link will carry a maximum of 161 passengers, against 253 on the existing A350-900 of the company. That means more space, with 67 flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration for business class and 94 up economy seats in an essentially 2-4-2 configuration at the rear.

While premium economy seats offer an 8-inch tilt, the pace – the distance between yours and the one before it – is 38 inches, 4 inches lower than on some of Japan Airlines' long-haul flights.

LOBSTER THERMIDOR

SIA says it will serve dishes on very long routes that try to compensate for the effect of being stuck in a seat for a day.

The company's "Wellness" menu features shrimp ceviche, organic chicken and pappardelle with zucchini. A partnership with Canyon Ranch offers "scientific recommendations and strategies to improve sleep, balanced meal choices and circulation-enhancing exercises." Try braised pork with citrus or pan-fried chicken and large zucchini ribbons for dishes with less salt and sugar and more turmeric and fennel that, according to Canyon, promote hydration and nutrition.

As with other Singapore Air long-haul itineraries, you can enjoy local specialties such as chicken, rice and beef, or the "Book the Cook" service, which allows you to order dishes such as lobster thermidor or steak hours before the flight.

And if the international panel of chefs of the airline can not tempt you, you can always order a hamburger in advance.

SANDRA BULLOCK

For the Internet-addicted traveler who wants to stay secret for almost a whole day, the flight offers Wi-Fi for a fee. A business class ticket receives 30 megabytes of data for free. An additional 20 MB, just enough for an hour on Facebook, costs 6 USD, while larger packages offer up to 200 MB for 28 USD. According to SIA, the speed of data transmission could be 4 to 8 Mbps, depending on active users, satellite coverage and weather conditions.

For moviegoers, this should not be a problem. The airline has added 200 hours of movies and TV shows to the 1,000 already available, from new releases like 'Ocean & # 39; s 8' to artistic and international films.

SLEEP DRIVERS

The four SIA pilots (two captains and two first officers) embarked on each A350-900 ultralongs are not allowed to travel to New York unless they have not flown 48 hours before takeoff. According to SIA, they enjoy more time on board, with at least eight hours of rest, compared with five and a half hours in a traditional long-haul service. When they land in New York, pilots have three nights off before returning to Singapore.

The 13 cabin crew members will enjoy at least four hours of rest during the flight and two days to enjoy New York before returning.

WEIGHTLOSS

When the SIA abandoned the previous Singapore-New York flight in 2013, oil traded around $ 100 a barrel. With crude prices in excess of $ 80, the carrier is increasingly relying on technology to reduce the fuel bill.

This means that the plane must remain as light as possible.

Lightweight composites, including carbon fiber, make up the bulk of the A350-900ULR, while newer wingtips help reduce drag, Airbus said. According to Maria Luisa Lucas Ugena, marketing manager of A350 products, the improved model consumes 25% less fuel than aircraft of similar size and performance.

The aircraft has a higher ceiling, larger windows and a wider body, with less noise in the cabin and LED lighting designed to reduce jet lag. Aircraft based on composite materials can also tolerate higher cabin pressure, which means more oxygen and moisture in the air, making the flight more comfortable.

FULL TANK

Weight savings will not be enough to get the plane off the ground for Newark. Airbus has refitted the fuel system of a standard A350-900 and pumped 17% more kerosene into the wing tanks. The aircraft can now hold approximately 43,590 gallons of fuel, or more than 270 gallons per passenger on a full flight. The A340-500 used on this route until 2013 had 58,870 gallons for just 100 customers.

BLOOMBERG