Shorter is better

Less distance, less time = more passengers

The cessation of the world’s longest nonstop route – Singapore Airlines’ Singapore-New York/Newark service – will see the end of the still young long-legged Airbus A340-500 operating on what were pioneering long-distance routes. SIN/EWR was the epitome of distance versus seasonal winds.

Operating along The Great Circle, the 9,535nm route tracked almost due north to about 80 degrees then arced down over eastern Canada. The scheduled sector length of 18. 5hrs was always subject to winds – either chasing them or avoiding them – which saw some flights as ‘short’ as 17. 5 and as long as 22. 2 hours. Indeed some tracks were up to 700nm longer eastbound and 980nm westbound just to find favourable winds, but regardless, the world’s longest nonstop route challenged long-range norms.