Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced plans to launch non-stop flights between Singapore and New York by the end of the year. The 19-hour, 9500 mile flight will be the world’s longest nonstop flight and will be operated by new Airbus A350-900ULR. The carrier has also expressed interest in launching service to Los Angeles next year, a service that will take a little over 15 hours.

SIA’s current flights between Singapore and New York make a stop in Frankfurt.

With the new service, Singapore Airlines will reclaim the title it held from 2004 to 2013, when it flew between Singapore and Newark. At that time, SIA used an A340-500 on the route in an all-business configuration.

Currently, the world’s longest flight (by time flown) is Qatar Airways Flight 920/1, which connects the cities of Auckland, New Zealand and Doha, Qatar. The flight lasts roughly 18 hours and 20 minutes. United Airlines is currently a close second, as they operate between Singapore and Los Angeles.

“Following the first flight of the [A350] ultra-long-range aircraft, SIA is looking forward to launching our own flights before the end of the year,” said an SIA spokesperson. “We expect to be able to announce the first destination within the next few weeks.

Singapore Airlines plans to operate the flight with its aircraft in a two-class configuration, including Business and Premium Economy classes.

SIA has ordered seven A350-900ULRs. The airline’s Singapore-New York route will mark a significant milestone since in resumption of nonstop Singapore Airlines service to the US. SIA currently only flies directly to SFO from Singapore with the standard A350-900.

The A350-900ULR flew for the first time on Monday, April 23. The flight lasted almost five hours. The aircraft can fly up to 11,160 miles (roughly 18,000km). This range is about 1,800 miles longer than the standard A350.

The A350-900ULR, like other aircraft designed to operate ultra-long routes, was designed with a specific purpose in mind (besides distance): comfort.

“The new generation of aircraft servicing ultra-long-haul routes is designed to have a more pleasant cabin experience that reduces traveller fatigue, which can improve productivity and well-being,” said Richard Johnson, who is CWT Solutions Group’s director for the Asia-Pacific region. “When combined with the option to travel and work for a longer period uninterrupted by having to change aircraft, it makes a strong case for ultra-long-haul fights to be a direct contributor to a more effective workforce.”

The A350-900ULR’s cabins have high ceilings, LED lighting, and multiple noise-reducing features. The aircraft has a large number of windows, which can be used with both a pull-down shade and a push-button shade system.

“The A350 is a clean-sheet design that has been designed for these long-range flights,” said Florent Petteni, Airbus’ aircraft interiors marketing director for the A350. “You may not exactly pinpoint why it’s so comfortable and so nice to be flying on this airplane, but everything was done on purpose.”

The A350-900ULR is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. It will require an extra 24,000 liters (6,340 gallons) of fuel to operate flights at its maximum range. All of this extra gas will weigh an extra 20,000 pounds. Due to this extra weight, the aircraft won’t be able to carry as many passengers as the normal A350 type. It is expected that there will be space for less than 253 seats in SIA’s standard A350 configuration.

Announcements of new ultra-long-haul services aren’t new. Qantas, for example, announced the first direct service between Australia and Europe earlier this year and expressed interest interest in serving Chicago directly soon after.

Featured image by Airbus