On October 11th, 2018, Singapore Airlines started the world’s longest nonstop route from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the New York City area to its main hub at Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN).
This unprecedented nonstop trip would last more than 18 hours, ushering in a new era of ultra-long-haul travel. Just a few years later, in November 2020, Singapore Airlines would begin the world’s two longest flights, connecting John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with its Singapore hub via two slightly longer nonstop routes.
These two services, known as Singapore Airlines Flights 21, 22, 23, and 24, are still the world’s longest flights and the only ones that connect New York and Singapore, two of the world’s most vital financial hubs.
The Airbus A350-900ULR, which connects these two cities, is one of the longest-range aircraft on the market today, with a few unique features that set it apart from most long-haul jets and even the regular Airbus A350.
Singapore Airlines is the only airline currently serving commercial routes with the ultra-long-range widebody, and it appears to have had sustained success operating these routes, as neither has been cancelled since launch. However, the Newark route was temporarily discontinued in the spring of 2020 because to the COVID-19 epidemic.
An aircraft without an economy-class cabin
Singapore Airlines conducts these nonstop flights with a fleet of seven Airbus A350-900ULR jets that are uniquely outfitted with solely business and premium economy class seats.
There are a few intriguing reasons why the carrier chose not to add an economy cabin on this jet, all of which tell a unique tale about the nature of ultra-long-haul travel to and from cities on opposite ends of the planet.
Singapore Airlines, while well-known for its premium offerings, is not a premium-only carrier. Some airlines, such as the French La Compagnie, specialise in running only business-class flights, but Singapore Airlines is not one of them.
Every other aircraft in the Singapore Airlines fleet has economy-class seating, while larger jets like the Airbus A380 have hundreds of seats in their economy cabins.
Nonetheless, the Airbus A350-900ULR is outfitted with only 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy seats, leaving budget-conscious passengers with no options for booking.
While it may appear that the airline simply does not believe that anyone would spend more than 18 hours in an economy-class seat, there are various economic and practical reasons why the airline does not have an economy cabin on those aircraft. Let’s go into these reasons now.
The Singapore-New York route has a unique history
The inaugural service on the route, which began in 2004 between Singapore and the New York area, used an Airbus A340-500 to connect the two locations, with 14 cabin staff and six different flight deck officers.
The original nonstop voyage, which served the Star Alliance hub of Newark, required an astounding 59,000 gallons of fuel, resulting in exceptionally low fuel efficiency due to the additional weight of the extra fuel.
Despite the aircraft saving passengers up to four hours over a stopping service, which Singapore Airlines previously provided between New York and its hub, medical experts were concerned that the 18-hour flight might have negative health consequences.
Because of the poorer air quality and prolonged exposure to a lower-than-usual supply of oxygen, these aircraft include a locker onboard to hold the bodies of passengers who died while on board.
According to The Guardian, the aircraft’s direct route over the North Pole and the Pacific Ocean raised some safety concerns because there were very few potential diversion points.
Singapore Airlines originally offered a configuration with 64 business class seats and 117 premium economy seats, citing increased premium demand. In 2008, the airline modified its A340-500 aircraft to provide 100 seats in full business class. By 2013, with rising worldwide fuel prices, the airline has opted to cease this service, claiming lower revenue and higher operating costs.
The airline decided to take a second chance on this route in 2018 when a newer fuel-efficient aircraft came along
Despite the cancellation of this route, the Singapore Airlines route strategy team refused to abandon this exceptionally profitable route. New York and Singapore are two of the world’s most important and fastest-growing financial hubs, therefore business travellers frequently travel between the two.
Those travelling for work almost always have their tickets paid for by their companies, and they usually book first or business class cabins.
As a result, the potentially significant revenue that Singapore Airlines could collect by flying straight to these destinations could be quite appealing, assuming the carrier can figure out how to do so economically. When the Airbus A350 first entered service in the mid-2010s, it was a new long-range platform with the potential to operate this ultra-long-haul route.
After conferring with Airbus, Singapore Airlines placed an order for seven units of a specially configured variant, the Airbus A350-900ULR, which has the range to reach both New York airports from Singapore.
The aeroplane would need to carry more fuel, and because of the higher weight, the airline would need to conserve weight by carrying fewer passengers. This was simply one of the reasons why the carrier chose to install solely business and premium economy seats on this aircraft.
However, by doing so, the airline was able to save weight and assure that it could complete the flight regardless of wind conditions, never needing to detour somewhere along the route.
At the end of the day, this route was created to accommodate business travellers who prioritise the convenience of an ultra-long-haul nonstop trip over the increased costs involved with avoiding the stopover.
Because the airline had to account for stratospheric costs on this route, its tickets would have to be much more expensive than those for stopover flights between the two cities.
Singapore Airlines conducts a stop-over trip from New York to Singapore that refuels at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany, offering hundreds of economy-class seats. As a result, the airline’s nonstop flight would cost more than the one-stop service, which would only save passengers approximately eight hours on a roundtrip journey.
For budget-conscious vacationers shopping for economy-class seats, the additional cost is not worth it only to save time. As a result, the airline only chose to install business class and premium economy seats on this new longest route in the globe, as these are the two cabins most popular with business travellers.
Some precedent for this system
Singapore Airlines is not the only airline that has chosen to provide solely premium seating on a route that caters primarily to business travellers.
Between September 2009 to the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, British Airways operated all business class flights between London City Airport (LCY) and JFK, making it the sole transatlantic service to ever depart from the small facility.
This airport, which was closer to London’s financial area, provided business travellers with more efficient access to a New York trip, for which British Airways charged a significant premium.
According to Business Traveller, the airline flew with only 32 passengers and furnished the cabin in an all-business class arrangement to save weight. The airline operated Airbus A318s for this trip, which were among the largest aircraft to take off from the airport’s severely short runway.
Similar to Singapore’s nonstop New York-Singapore services, these flights were expensive to run and hence exclusively appealed to business travellers who valued the convenience of getting to Canary Wharf faster.
Regular tourists prefer to pay a smaller cost and ride the comparatively swift train from London Heathrow. British Airways officially cancelled this service in August 2020, citing increasing costs and a lack of passenger demand.
FAQ
Why doesn’t Singapore Airlines have economy-class Airbus A350-900ULRs?
Singapore Airlines decided to configure its Airbus A350-900ULRs (Ultra Long Range) with a premium cabin layout, focusing on business and first-class seats for passengers on ultra-long-haul flights, such as the non-stop Singapore to New York route. This decision is part of their strategy to target higher-paying customers and optimize profitability on long flights.
What is the seating configuration on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900ULRs?
The A350-900ULRs operated by Singapore Airlines feature a two-class configuration with business class and premium economy seats. The aircraft does not include economy-class seats due to its focus on catering to premium travelers on long-haul routes.
What is the range of the Airbus A350-900ULR?
The Airbus A350-900ULR has an impressive range of approximately 9,700 nautical miles, making it ideal for ultra-long-haul flights such as those from Singapore to New York, which can last over 18 hours.
Why does Singapore Airlines focus on premium cabins on long-haul flights?
Singapore Airlines prioritizes premium cabins on ultra-long-haul flights to cater to passengers who are willing to pay more for comfort on long journeys. The airline aims to maximize profitability by offering high-end services to business and first-class travelers, rather than traditional economy seating.
Will Singapore Airlines offer economy class on future ultra-long-haul flights?
At the moment, Singapore Airlines does not have plans to offer economy-class seating on Airbus A350-900ULRs. The airline’s current strategy focuses on business and premium economy offerings, but future decisions may evolve based on customer demand and operational requirements.
