Why only Singapore Airlines operates the world’s longest nonstop commercial flight

Singapore Airlines’ CEO Goh Choon Phong commented at the launch of the service: “Singapore Airlines has always taken pride in pushing the boundaries to provide the best possible travel convenience for our customers, and we are pleased to be leading the way with these new non-stop flights using the latest-technology, ultra-long-range Airbus A350-900ULR. The flights will offer our customers the fastest way to travel between the two cities – in great comfort, together with Singapore Airlines’ legendary service - and will help boost connectivity to and through the Singapore hub.”

To maximize profitability on such a long route, Singapore Airlines configures its -900ULRs with only business-class and premium economy seats—67 business and 94 premium economy—instead of including first or standard economy classes. This layout balances weight limitations and higher fare revenues.

While other airlines have shown interest in operating similar routes or acquiring ULR variants—including Qantas—no other carrier currently flies this specific ultra-long-haul service. Qantas has ordered Airbus A350-1000s that are expected to operate direct flights from Australia to Europe and North America beginning in late 2026 but these do not feature modified fuel tanks like those on Singapore’s -900ULR (https://www.flightglobal.com/fleets/qantas-finalises-order-for-airbus-a350-ultra-long-haul-twinjets/147448.article).

Qantas Group Chief Executive Alan Joyce stated: "Work has also resumed on Project Sunrise. Our latest customer research shows the demand for direct long-haul flights is even stronger than it was pre-COVID, so our focus on delivering non-stop services from Sydney Kingsford Smith and Melbourne Airport to New York JFK and London Heathrow remains."

In response to evolving market demands, Singapore Airlines announced last year an $821 million retrofit program for its A350 fleet—including -900ULRs—to introduce four first-class seats along with new business-class products (https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/singapore-airlines-cabin-retrofit/index.html). According to a statement from Singapore Airlines regarding these changes: “Designed with increasingly discerning travelers in mind, these plush first-class seats promise to deliver an unparalleled in-flight experience.”

Despite advances by competitors like Qantas or technological improvements across manufacturers’ fleets, Singapore Airlines remains alone in operating regular commercial passenger service on this record-breaking route.