Singapore Airlines Flight 21
Encyclopedia
Singapore Airlines
Flight 21 is the longest regular scheduled non-stop flight
in the world. It flies from Newark Liberty International Airport
to Singapore Changi Airport
, covering about 10000 miles (16,093.4 km) miles still air distance in about 18.5 hours flight time. It is operated by an Airbus A340-500. Its return flight is Flight 22 from Singapore to Newark, which is the second-longest flight in the world, being scheduled to be fifteen minutes shorter due to prevailing high-altitude winds.
Due to the curvature of the globe, the flight does not travel over the Pacific Ocean
, but rather in a north/south direction over China
, Mongolia
, Russia
, the Arctic Ocean
and Canada
. The path over the North Pole
can be seen in this image. The distance between the Newark and Singapore airports along a great circle
path is 9535 miles (15,345.1 km).
Singapore Airlines originally offered an Executive Economy Class on this flight. Seats in this class of travel were more spacious than ordinary Economy Class seats. However, SIA phased out this class of service in favor of 100-seat all-Business Class flights on the non-stop flights between Singapore and Newark or Los Angeles in 2008.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
Flight 21 is the longest regular scheduled non-stop flight
Non-stop flight
A non-stop flight, especially in the aviation industry, refers to any flight by an aircraft which does not involve any intermediate stops. A "direct flight" is not the same as a "non-stop flight"...
in the world. It flies from Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
to Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
, covering about 10000 miles (16,093.4 km) miles still air distance in about 18.5 hours flight time. It is operated by an Airbus A340-500. Its return flight is Flight 22 from Singapore to Newark, which is the second-longest flight in the world, being scheduled to be fifteen minutes shorter due to prevailing high-altitude winds.
Due to the curvature of the globe, the flight does not travel over the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, but rather in a north/south direction over China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The path over the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
can be seen in this image. The distance between the Newark and Singapore airports along a great circle
Great circle
A great circle, also known as a Riemannian circle, of a sphere is the intersection of the sphere and a plane which passes through the center point of the sphere, as opposed to a general circle of a sphere where the plane is not required to pass through the center...
path is 9535 miles (15,345.1 km).
Singapore Airlines originally offered an Executive Economy Class on this flight. Seats in this class of travel were more spacious than ordinary Economy Class seats. However, SIA phased out this class of service in favor of 100-seat all-Business Class flights on the non-stop flights between Singapore and Newark or Los Angeles in 2008.