Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.au/tr

[NM]

From news.com.au:

THE title of the world's longest commercial flight will go to Qantas after Singapore Airlines announced it will end its nonstop flight between Singapore and Newark next year, a distance of about 15,300 kilometres.

This follows SQ's recent announcement noted in this Travel News thread yesterday: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....el-news/sq-shuffling-things-around-44382.html.

Seems that the all-J ultra-long-haul services were not profitable for SQ.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Finally allows SQ to get rid of those A340's

777-200LR's would have been better for the route, but no doubt SQ crunched the numbers and worked out an investment for 4 x 777-200LRs was not worth it

 

[Sprucegoose]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Has anyone here been on that SIN-EWR route? I believe it was all J and a 340-500?

 

[StevePER]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Has anyone here been on that SIN-EWR route? I believe it was all J and a 340-500?

I did it in 2009 - all J on the A340-500.
My First SQ Experience - PER-SIN-EWR (J) — Trip Reports Forum | Airliners.net

 

[Austman]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Has anyone here been on that SIN-EWR route? I believe it was all J and a 340-500?

Did it both ways in August this year.

 

[NM]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Has anyone here been on that SIN-EWR route? I believe it was all J and a 340-500?

The news article linked above states they have 98 business-class seats in an all-J config using A340-500 aircraft.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Finally allows SQ to get rid of those A340's

Actually, the routes are going because the A340's are going and there is no suitable replacement aircraft.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Actually, the routes are going because the A340's are going and there is no suitable replacement aircraft.

The 777-200LR would be.....

 

[smit0847]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

I always considered the all-J SIN-EWR the classiest flight since the Concorde...

 

[NM]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

The 777-200LR would be.....

While the 777-200LR may have the range to operate the route, its a considerably larger aircraft meaning they would need to sell have more seats and sell more tickets to make it financially viable.

 

[mannej]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

While the 777-200LR may have the range to operate the route, its a considerably larger aircraft meaning they would need to sell have more seats and sell more tickets to make it financially viable.

That is interesting, considering that the 345 is longer, yet the 772LR is wider


Apparently the 772 can fit more seats in.

 

[NM]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

That is interesting, considering that the 345 is longer, yet the 772LR is wider


Apparently the 772 can fit more seats in.

You are right. I thought the 777-200 was going to be considerably bigger, but it is in fact shorter (63.7m vs 67.93m) and lighter (MTOW 247T vs 380T). Manufacturer's recommended seating in 3-class config is similar at 313 seats, but 777 has max seating of 440 and A345 is max at 375, which is likely limited more by exits and certifications rather than space.

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Stating the obvious but for seating capacity you gain a lot more by some extra width of the plane (50-60 x 1 extra seat (3-3-3) or x 2 (3-4-3)) than a bit of extra length for an extra row or two of 8 seats....

 

[NM]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Stating the obvious but for seating capacity you gain a lot more by some extra width of the plane (50-60 x 1 extra seat (3-3-3) or x 2 (3-4-3)) than a bit of extra length for an extra row or two of 8 seats....

But for an all-J config that means the dreaded 2-3-2 config on the 777, or a herringbone pattern, and neither of these is suited to the SQ long-haul business class seats. On the SQ 77W they still have a 1-2-1 config (same as A340-500 and A380 upper deck).

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Yeah obviously different configs for all J, was referring mainly to the 3 class lay out as to how many more people they could fit into a wider 777... But I'm sure they would squeeze in an extra J seat or so if they used a 777 for all J... They wouldn't have exactly the same amount as if they were losing money on the A345 service they would be losing even more revenue compared to what they would forgo from a 3 class config (772 v A345) with all those extra Y passengers...

And that's probably why they won't use a 777 in all J config...

 

[browski]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

Are SQ still flying to Newark (but with a stop somewhere)? I'm guessing their flights to JFK via FRA remain unchanged? Booked on JFK-FRA in Jan.

 

[Major]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

I am currently in SIN and today's article in The Straits Times says that SQ will pull the plug on both the New York and LAX direct flights from late next year. LAX flights will transit via Tokyo and EWR via FRA.
They have 5 A 345's and have done a deal with AB to buy 20 A 350 mid-sized aircraft and 5 A 380's valued at USD$7.5 billion. In return AB will take back the 5 A 345's.
SQ are quoted as saying the airline will continue to make losses on these routes, particularly the LAX flights which require 70-75% load factors for yields and volumes to be justifiable

 

[Austman]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

SQ are quoted as saying the airline will continue to make losses on these routes, particularly the LAX flights which require 70-75% load factors for yields and volumes to be justifiable

My SIN-EWR and EWR-SIN flights were both way less than 50% full. Great for us passengers! Maybe not so good for SQ profitability?

 

[Mal]

One of the UK rags claims delta will now have the longest route. Perhaps it was Atlanta to Joburg. Any thoughts

(Apologies for the dodgy phone autocorrects!)

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Qantas to have the world's longest flight route Read more: http://www.news.com.a

One of the UK rags claims delta will. Now hqve the longest route. Perhaps it was Atlanta to homburg. Any thoughts

Qantas will have the longest flight by distance.
Delta will have the longest flight by flight time.