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Singapore Airlines Flights 21 and 22

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Singapore Airlines Flights 21 and 22(SQ21/SIA21 and SQ22/SIA22, respectively) are airline routes operated by Singapore Airlines betweenSingapore Changi Airport (SIN)andNewark Liberty International Airport (EWR).They were the twolongestregularly schedulednon-stop flightsin the world, until surpassed bySingapore Airlines Flights 23 and 24(SQ23 and SQ24) betweenSingapore Changi AirportandJohn F. Kennedy International Airport(JFK) in November 2020.

The flights were operated from 28 June 2004[1]to 23 November 2013,[2]using anAirbus A340-500,and again from 11 October 2018[3]using anAirbus A350-900ULRuntil operations were suspended on 25 March 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.On 27 March 2022, Singapore Airlines resumed operations using an Airbus A350-900ULR.[4]

The flights cover 15,300 to 17,000 kilometres (9,500 to 10,600 mi; 8,300 to 9,200 nmi) for SQ21 and 17,205 kilometres (10,691 mi; 9,290 nmi) for SQ22. For SQ21, flights flew over the Atlantic Ocean, Europe and Asia but often some flights flew in the opposite direction of SQ22's path. For SQ22, flights flew over the Pacific Ocean, Asia and United States.

Service

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In June 2004, Singapore Airlines introduced Flight SQ21, using theAirbus A340-500on a record breaking 15,344-kilometre (9,534 mi; 8,285 nmi)great circleroute fromNewarktoSingapore,passing within 130 kilometres (81 mi; 70 nmi) of theNorth Pole.[5][6]Taking a little over 18 hours, Flight SQ21 was scheduled to take off from Newark at 23:00 EDT (11:00 SGT) and land in Singapore at 4:05 SGT (16:05 EDT).[7]

This non-stop scheduled-commercial distance was immediately surpassed by return Flight SQ22, which flew a then-record 16,600-kilometre (9,000 nmi) back to Newark, on a route over Asia andAlaska.[8]Despite the greater distance, Flight SQ22 averaged a slightly shorter 17 hours 45 minutes due to assistance from prevailing high-altitude winds.[9]

Flight

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An Airbus A340-500, which formerly flew this route. This aircraft is now in storage.

Original service (2004–2013)

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The plane originally used for the Singapore–Newark route was anAirbus A340-500.It had 14 cabin crew and six flight deck officers, each working four-hour shifts.[10]

The flight required 222,000 litres (49,000 imp gal; 59,000 US gal) of fuel, more than ten times the total weight of all the passengers and crew. Critics said that while there would be reduced noise pollution due to a stop not being required, the non-stop flight would save little fuel due to the need to use more energy at the beginning of the flight to power its heavy load.[10]

The airline said that this route would save four hours off a one-stop service. However, medical experts expressed concerns regarding the 18-hour flight, in which passengers would breathe recycled air with a greater chance of picking up viral infections such as flu and colds on board. Furthermore, the heart and lungs would come under increased strain from a lower than usual supply of oxygen, with an enhanced risk ofdeep vein thrombosis(DVT) among people who fail to exercise frequently on board. The airline had installed special lockers on the aircraft to store the body of any passengers that died en route, since the flight's routing over the Pacific Ocean and the North Pole meant that there were few, if any, possible unscheduled stops.[10][11]

Singapore Airlines originally offered 64business classand 117 Executive Economy Class seats on this flight. SIA phased out the Executive Economy Class in favor of 100-seat all-Business Class flights in 2008.[12]

2013 suspension

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In October 2012,Singapore Airlinesannounced that it would discontinue non-stop service to both Newark andLos Angelesin 2013. Revenue was no longer high enough to sustain the service and the routes were dropped in November 2013.[13][14]

As part of a deal announced withAirbus,the airline would sell back its five Airbus A340-500 aircraft to the aircraft manufacturer while ordering 5 extraAirbus A380and another 20Airbus A350 XWBaircraft.[15]

The airline continued serving Los Angeles viaTokyo Naritaas it had during the period with the non-stop flights. It continued to serve theNew York metropolitan area(in which Newark is located) via the nearbyJohn F. Kennedy International Airport,with a stop atFrankfurt Airport.[16]

Relaunch (2018–2020)

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A Singapore Airlines A350-900 (ULR version) atBeijing Capital International Airport

On 13 October 2015, Singapore Airlines announced that it had signed an agreement withAirbusto be the launch customer of a new version of the Airbus A350 called theA350-900ULR(stands for "Ultra Long Range" ), which according to the announcement would feature "all-new cabin products which are currently under development."[17]

On 30 May 2018, Singapore Airlines announced the relaunch of SQ 21/22 starting 11 October 2018 (Singapore departure), with daily service commencing 18 October 2018.[18]The flights use the Airbus A350-900ULR, a modified version of the standard Airbus A350-900, with fuel capacity increased from 141,000 to 165,000 litres (31,000 to 36,000 imp gal; 37,000 to 44,000 US gal), and with a maximum range of 9,700 nautical miles (11,200 mi; 18,000 km). The A350-900ULR is expected to consume 25% less fuel versus the A340-500.[19]There are 161 seats, comprising 67 business and 94 premium economy seats. There are no economy seats.[20][21] The re-launched flight to Newark operates as ared-eye flight,with a morning departure from Singapore.[22]The airline finally received the aircraft on 26 September[23]and relaunched the flight on 11 October 2018.[24]These flights are typically staffed with fourpilotsand 13flight attendants.[25]

COVID-19 suspension (2020) and resumption (2022)

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On 25 March 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,SQ21/SQ22 operations were suspended and subsequently cancelled.

In November 2020, in an effort to increase cargo throughput, Singapore Airlines launched the even longer non-stop flights SQ23/SIA23 and SQ24/SIA24 using anAirbus A350-900to nearbyNew York—JFKthat covered 15,349 kilometres (9,537 mi; 8,288 nmi).[26]

On 27 March 2022, Singapore Airlines relaunched SQ21/SQ22 using an Airbus A350-900ULR in a mixed business and premium economy cabin.[4]

References

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  1. ^"Singapore Airlines beats its own long-haul record".Airways.ch. 29 June 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 22 July 2013.Retrieved17 December2010.
  2. ^"SIA To Make Network Adjustments In Northern Summer Schedule"(Press release).Singapore Airlines.18 December 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2012.Retrieved19 December2012.
  3. ^"Covid-19: Singapore Airlines and SilkAir Adjust Services in Response to Covid-19"(Press release).Singapore Airlines.23 March 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 29 March 2020.Retrieved21 July2020.
  4. ^ab"Singapore Airlines goes triple daily to New York, with the return of non-stop Newark flights".Mainly Miles.12 January 2022.Retrieved12 January2022.
  5. ^"Singapore Airlines 21".FlightAware.23 November 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2016.Retrieved1 April2016.
  6. ^Elledge, Jonn (2021).The compendium of (not quite) everything: all the facts you didn't know you wanted to know.London. p. 127.ISBN978-1-4722-7648-3.OCLC1276790971.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^"SQ21 - Singapore Airlines SQ 21 Flight Tracker".FlightStats.
  8. ^Agence France Presse(28 June 2004)."SIA sets new world record with direct flight to New York".Singapore Window. Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.Retrieved1 April2016.
  9. ^"Singapore Airlines 22".FlightAware.23 November 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 12 April 2016.Retrieved1 April2016.
  10. ^abcClark, Andrew (29 June 2004)."Record longest flight flies in the face of its critics".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 22 September 2016.Retrieved13 December2016.
  11. ^Clark, Andrew (11 May 2004)."Airline's new fleet includes a cupboard for corpses".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 28 December 2016.Retrieved13 December2016.
  12. ^"Singapore Airlines to Launch First All-Business Class Flights From USA to Asia"(Press release).Singapore Airlines.Archivedfrom the original on 23 May 2008.Retrieved22 October2018.
  13. ^Doyle, Andrew (24 October 2012)."SIA to drop nonstop USA flights as Airbus buys back A340s".flightglobal.com.Archivedfrom the original on 27 April 2016.Retrieved2 April2016.
  14. ^Mike Tierney (25 November 2013)."Last Call for the Long Haul From Singapore to Newark".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2017.Retrieved1 April2016.
  15. ^Mayerowitz, Scott (24 October 2012)."Singapore Airlines to end world's longest flights".AP Worldstream.Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2016.Retrieved10 January2016.
  16. ^"SIA, Scoot to upgrade & expand fleet".Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2012.Retrieved24 October2012.
  17. ^"SIA To Re-Start Non-Stop Singapore-US Flights With New A350 Variant"(Press release). 13 October 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2015.Retrieved17 October2015.
  18. ^"Singapore Airlines To Launch World's Longest Commercial Flights".Singapore Airlines.Retrieved30 May2018.
  19. ^"Singapore Airlines jet lands in US after world's longest flight".Retrieved16 October2018.
  20. ^Rosen, Eric."Singapore Airlines Will Fly World's New Longest Flight New York To Singapore In October".Forbes.Retrieved26 February2023.
  21. ^Lieu, Johnny (9 October 2018)."On the world's new longest flight, there is no cattle class".Mashable.Retrieved26 February2023.
  22. ^Flynn, David (30 May 2018)."Singapore Airlines will restart non-stop New York flights in October".Australian Business Traveler.Archivedfrom the original on 30 May 2018.Retrieved30 May2018.
  23. ^Haines, Gavin (26 September 2018)."'A new chapter in air travel' – introducing the plane that will operate the world's longest flight ".The Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 16 October 2018.Retrieved15 October2018.
  24. ^Dwyer-Lingren, Jeremy (13 October 2018)."Now flying from NYC: The world's longest flight".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on 15 October 2018.Retrieved15 October2018.
  25. ^Salamat, Hidayah (13 October 2018)."Singapore Airlines' world's longest flight: What it's like to fly 18 hours in the back of the plane".CNA.There are 17 crew members, including four in the cockpit and 13 in the cabin.
  26. ^"Singapore Airlines launches non-stop services to JFK".Singapore Airlines.25 October 2020.Retrieved9 May2021.
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