Non-stop 19 hrs from Lion City to Big Apple

Passengers were getting ready to board the world’s longest flight yesterday -- a marathon 19 hours in the air between Singapore and New York. Two pilots, a special “wellness” menu and more than seven weeks’ worth of film and television entertainment were expected to accompany travellers on the 16,700-kilometre (10,400- mile) journey to the Big Apple.

Singapore Airlines will use the long-range Airbus A350- 900ULR, configured to carry 161 passengers -- 67 in business class and 94 in premium economy, with no regular economy seats available. For the flight crew -- which also includes two first officers and a 13-strong cabin contingent -- the work load will be broken up, the airline said, with each pilot having a minimum eight hours’ rest during the flight. But for passengers, the challenge will be what to do with all that down time when they’re up in the air.

For those not packing a weighty novel (or two), there will be 1,200 hours of audio-visual entertainment to choose from. Dining options will include dishes the airline says have been selected to promote well-being in the skies, with organic dishes on the menu. The cabin has high - er-than-normal ceilings, larger windows and lighting designed to reduce jet lag -- all part of an effort to lessen the stresses that can accompany almost a day on a plane.

“Research has shown that hydration and food intake are important factors (to consider), such as avoiding foods that cause gas or bloating as well as excessive alcohol,” Rhenu Bhuller, a healthcare expert at consultancy Frost & Sullivan, told AFP. “The biggest concern is Deep Vein Thrombosis from a combination of sitting for too long and also from dehydration,” said Gail Cross, an associate consultant at the National University Hospital in Singapore.

‘Race between airlines’ The twin-engine plane that will make the journey uses a modified system that burns 25 per cent less fuel than other aircraft of a similar size, Airbus said. The flight from the city-state to Newark Airport can take up to 18 hours and 45 minutes under normal weather conditions, but the pilots will have something in reserve in an aircraft capable of flying more than 20 hours non-stop.

Singapore Airlines originally flew the route for nine years using the gas-guzzling, four-engine A340-500 before abandoning it in 2013 because high oil prices made the service unprofitable. But the carrier is hoping that the introduction of more fuel-efficient planes will set cash registers ringing even as crude prices soar above $80. Thursday’s flight will top the current longest direct link between cities -- Qatar Airways Flight 921 from Auckland to Doha, which takes 17 hours 40 minutes.