With the world’s longest non-stop flight set to return in 2018, we’ve compiled a very brief list of the pitfalls and perks of going between Singapore and the U.S. sans layover.
Con: It takes 19 hours.
Pro: No jet lag.
Singapore Airlines will transport customers who opt for the revived non-stop journey via a brand new fleet of 67 Airbus A350-900 XWB (Extra Wide Body) aircraft, the first of which was delivered this week.
What makes these planes so special?
They’re outfitted with a bunch of cutting-edge tech that can allegedly kill jet lag.
The 253-seaters are six inches wider than 787s, with walls designed to maximize shoulder space and a cabin that can be pressurized to make passengers feel more at home. Also inside:
- A ventilation system that pumps out a fresh supply of air every two minutes
- A hyper-charged humidifier that combats flaky skin, dry eyes and itchy throats
- And LED lighting that mimics the natural phases of the day with 16.7 million shades of color to keep body clocks on schedule.
There’s also the fact that the planes are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB twin-engines with 68 times more power than Formula One racing cars, which has nothing to do with jet-lag reduction but is nonetheless fairly awesome.
The flights will operate between Singapore and New York or Los Angeles, with a third U.S. city (Houston, San Francisco and Chicago are rumored) yet to be announced.
Need some reading material for the flight? We’ve got you covered.
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