Singapore Airlines to launch world s longest non-stop flight

Singapore April 26 (IANS) Singapore Airlines is set to launch the world s first non-stop flight with almost 20 hours in the air by the end of this year the media reported on Thursday.

Singapore Airlines newest plane the Airbus A350-900ULR -- for Ultra Long-Range -- will travel on a record-breaking globe-spanning flight that will connect Singapore to New York reports CNN

Earlier the airline used to fly the gas-guzzling four-engine A340-500 on the 9 500-mile route with just 100 business-class seats on board.

The service proved to be inefficient and Singapore Airlines cancelLed the flights in 2013.

Singapore Airlines is now taking delivery of Airbus newest wide-body the A350-900. It has 21 planes in its fleet of an order for 67 aircraft.

It has ordered seven of the Ultra Long-Range planes.

On April 23 the plane had its first test flight an almost five-hour round-trip that launched from the airframer s assembly plant in Toulouse France.

The Ultra Long-Range will be able to fly a remarkable 11 160 miles an increase of more than 1 800 miles over the standard A350. It means that Singapore Airlines will reclaim the crown of running the world s longest non-stop air route.

Keeping passengers comfort in mind the A350s share Airbus design philosophy that makes the aircraft cabin feel more like a room rather than a long tube.

The plane has high ceilings sophisticated LED lighting almost vertical sidewalls and a low noise level.

"The A350 is a clean-sheet design that has been designed for those long-range flights " Florent Petteni Airbus aircraft interiors marketing director for the A350 told CNN.

The air circulation system on the A350 has also been designed to be quiet and draft-free.

--IANS
ksk