SINGAPORE/USA: SINGAPORE AIRLINES BREAKS ITS OWN RECORD FOR LONGEST NON-STOP COMMERCIAL FLIGHT.

Record ID: 648235

  • Title: SINGAPORE/USA: SINGAPORE AIRLINES BREAKS ITS OWN RECORD FOR LONGEST NON-STOP COMMERCIAL FLIGHT.
  • Date: 29th June 2004
  • Summary: (U1) SINGAPORE (RECENT) (REUTERS) 1. LV/GV/CU: VARIOUS OF SINGAPORE AIRLINES PLANE TAXIING ON RUNWAY BEFORE NON-STOP FLIGHT TO NEW YORK; GROUND CREW SIGNALLING AIRCRAFT (3 SHOTS) 0.14 (U1) NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA (JUNE 28, 2004) (REUTERS) 2. GV: TRAVELLERS DEPLANING IN NEW YORK'S NEWARK AIRPORT 0.21 3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) SIM SIOK CHYE, TRAVELLER, SAYING: "Last time we had to get off halfway in Europe and then get on another plane. With all of our luggage, it was inconvenient. This flight is very convenient. It's good news for us." 0.34 4. GV: NEW YORK TRAVELLER 0.38 5. SOUNDBITE (English) NEW YORK TRAVELLER, SAYING: "This is - oh - about my 18th trip in three years and this is a marvellous way to go. It cuts down a little bit of time." 0.45 (U1) SINGAPORE (RECENT) (REUTERS) 6. GV/MV/CU: INTERIOR OF PLANE AND PASSENGERS BEFORE TAKE OFF (5 SHOTS) 1.05 (U1) NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA (JUNE 28, 2004) (REUTERS) 7. SOUNDBITE (English) JAMES BOYD, SINGAPORE AIRLINES SPOKESMAN, SAYING "So you're going to find seats that are three inches wider. We have passenger lounge areas in economy class that haven't been seen on board aircrafts since the 1970's. And we are constantly encouraging passengers to move about the cabin, stretch their legs, go to the lounge area, have a snack with their colleagues, et cetera." 1.23 (U1) SINGAPORE (RECENT) (REUTERS) 8. GV/CU/MV: CABIN STAFF AND PASSENGERS IN PLANE BEFORE TAKE-OFF, TV SCREENS IN BACK OF CHAIRS (5 SHOTS) 1.45 9. SOUNDBITE (English) SINGAPOREAN TRAVELLER, SAYING: "Quite often, most of the business travellers and sometimes I feel that you are always pressed for time for a meeting or a presentation or coming back. Certainly in those cases, it'll be a preferred option." 1.59 10. GV: VARIOUS OF SINGAPORE AIRPORT TERMINAL (4 SHOTS) 2.10 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SINGAPORE AND NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA Singapore United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA16X4EGFQ6SHZAD1EO286EF7E6
  • Story Text: Singapore Airlines breaks own record of longest-haul
    non-stop flight from Singapore to New York.



    The world's longest commercial flight touched down
    in New York's Newark Airport on Monday (June 28) for the
    first time, after leaving Singapore 18 hours before.

    Singapore Airlines' new non-stop flight travels for a
    record 9,788 miles, flying in an arc over the North Pole.

    The new daily flight cuts four hours off the existing
    service that has a stopover in Frankfurt or Amsterdam.

    Singapore Airlines is pitching the flight to business
    travellers, for whom time is money.

    Singaporean traveller Sim Siok Chye felt fresher on the
    direct flight than on his last flight. "Last time we had to
    get off halfway in Europe and then get on another plane.

    With all of our luggage, it was inconvenient. This flight
    is very convenient. It's good news for us," he said.

    "This is - oh - about my 18th trip in three years and
    this is a marvellous way to go. It cuts down a little bit
    of time."
    But eighteen hours is a long flight. How is the airline
    prepared to deal with the possibility of deep vein
    thrombosis, otherwise known as "economy class syndrome,"
    which strikes travellers after they have been sitting for
    too long?
    "So you're going to find seats that are three inches
    wider. We have passenger lounge areas in economy class that
    haven't been seen on board aircrafts since the 1970's. And
    we are constantly encouraging passengers to move about the
    cabin, stretch their legs, go to the lounge area, have a
    snack with their colleagues, et cetera," said Singapore
    Airlines spokesman James Boyd.

    The planes are outfitted with wider seats and personal
    video monitors to make the long flight feel a little
    shorter. These luxuries don't come cheap. Ticket prices for
    the direct flight are five to ten percent higher than
    flights with a layover.

    "Quite often, most of the business travellers and
    sometimes I feel that you are always pressed for time for a
    meeting or a presentation or coming back. Certainly in
    those cases, it'll be a preferred option," a Singaporean
    traveller said.

    The airline surpassed the existing record, held by
    itself, which provides non-stop daily service between Los
    Angeles and Singapore. Both use a long-range Airbus model
    that can sustain the long flight.


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