It takes a lot of work, planning, and preparation to get a flight that will be in the air for 12-plus hours from point A to point B. Decades of engineering have made it possible. But something else—perhaps a smart combination of ergonomics and attention to detail—has made it possible for these flights to not only be endurable for travelers, but enjoyable. That is another feat altogether.
Over the years, Singapore Airlines has operated on a simple fact: Whether you’re taking to the skies for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or traveling frequently for work, a “trip” doesn’t begin when you land at your destination, it begins as soon as you board. This small shift in mindset can make a big difference in the overall travel experience, especially when it comes to long-haul travel. The time we spend in the air may be part of our work day or our vacation—a crucial start to our long-awaited time off. And it should be something to look forward to and enjoy.
In the US, average trip lengths are inching up, now averaging more than 500 miles per traveler. As long-haul flights get longer, and more ultra-long-range (ULR) flights (which are 16 hours or more) are being offered, being up at cruising altitude for half a day or longer is a reality for more travelers than ever before.
The world’s longest flight—a substantial 9,527 miles flown over the course of nearly 19 hours from New York’s JFK Airport to Singapore’s Changi Airport—is operated by Singapore Airlines. To put this into perspective, it takes a spacecraft as little as four hours to reach the International Space Station. The airline also operates the world’s second-longest flight, Newark International Airport to Changi Airport, which is just under two miles shorter than the JFK-Changi flight path.
Singapore Airlines has operated some of the longest flights in the world for more than two decades, and is celebrated for shaping their engineering and production efforts with customer experience. The seats in Economy Class on certain aircraft have been engineered to allow for maximum personal space—not something often seen in Economy Class. Even when the passenger seated in front of you reclines, the unique seat layout and ergonomic design in the premium economy class allows you to feel like you have plenty of space. Other seating design details in Premium Economy Class include calf rests, adjustable headrests, and armrests that aren’t shared between seats (so you get your own). In Business Class, lay-flat beds, and even curved partitions that provide privacy don't come at the expense of cramped quarters. It’s details like these that have cemented Singapore Airlines’ place as one of the world’s most-awarded airlines.
As technology—and what we know about air travel—changes, so do the airplanes themselves. New aircraft models are better suited for longer flights and ultra-long-haul routes because they are more fuel efficient. The Airbus A350-ULR, which is built with carbon fiber reinforced polymers, burns an average of 25 percent less fuel than older aircraft models. Currently, Singapore Airlines is the largest operator of the A350, with 65 of the aircraft in its fleet. The A350ULR plane is built specifically for ultra-long, nonstop flights, and has a longer flight range than any other aircraft. These planes are customized inside to optimize both fuel efficiencies and travelers’ flight experiences, with configurations that include only premium cabins, Business Class, and Premium Economy Class seats, so passengers have enough room to move, stretch out, and rest on flights that require it.
To continue improving the spaces travelers use while on their flights, Singapore Airlines recently announced an $800 million-plus cabin refurbishment program for 41 of its long-haul aircraft. For all seven of the carrier’s A350-900ULR twinjets, the new seating configuration will be split between 58 Premium Economy Class seats, 70 Business Class seats, and four First Class seats. These exclusive cabin seats are promised to set “new industry benchmarks for travel on the world's longest routes.” Current iterations of design plans include sliding doors to maximize square footage and privacy, as well as new, larger in-flight entertainment screens.
"Over the past six years, we have extensively engaged customers and stakeholders in the design of our next-generation long-haul cabin products, anticipating their evolving preferences and expectations down to the finest detail,” Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said. “The new first class and business class seat designs will incorporate thoughtful elements that push the boundaries of comfort, luxury, and modernity, allowing our customers to relax or work effortlessly on board."
Upgrades aren’t just reserved for those traveling in Business Class and First Class, though. To ensure that every passenger embarking on their long-haul flights has access to these design upgrades, Singapore Airlines is also revamping its Premium Economy Class and Economy Class cabins. The debut of the upgraded cabins will begin in 2026.
When airlines are operating ultra-long-haul routes with hundreds of customers on board, they face high demands for comfort, space, food and beverage, attention, and rest.
That’s why the most successful long-haul carriers invest so much in the spaces in their aircraft, food and beverage, and crew training. Singapore Airlines’ cabin crew training program is 14 weeks long, compared to an industry average of six weeks. During this training period, as well as out in the field, cabin crew members are trained on how to best operate with the amenities and technologies of the specific aircraft to help customers make the most out of these features. That includes KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment platform, which allows customers to access more than 1,900 entertainment options prior to departure, and up to 30 days after they touch down at their destination.
Consumer choice isn’t just an availability of options on these long-haul flights, it’s a premium experience. For customers traveling in any of Singapore Airlines’ cabins aside from Economy Class, the airline’s Book the Cook menu options offer meals that will most likely rival those of the destination you’re flying to. Book the Cook menus are handpicked by the Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel, which includes multiple high-profile chefs—including French and Australian culinary tour de forces—and feature Wagyu beef, lobster, scallops, and even local veggies. To ensure the food you’re eating is nutritious as well as tasty, Singapore Airlines has employed some lesser-known production strategies to bring farm-fresh ingredients to in-flight meals. Grown on aeroponic farms, varieties of greens arrive on the plane shortly after harvest. Not only are these some of the freshest ingredients, but they are also responsibly grown. Aeroponic farming methods can grow the same amount of crops in a fraction of the space, require no pesticides, and use 95 percent less water than traditional farming methods.
But no matter what cabin you’re flying in, fresh ingredients that support your body and good health are becoming a mainstay for long flights. After partnering with California’s renowned Golden Door in 2021, Singapore Airlines added new options to their menu, featuring dishes with ingredients that decrease inflammation, increase hydration, and prevent blood sugar spikes, like turmeric, blueberries, pumpkin, lentils, goji berries, and honey. Along with nourishing foods, Golden Door has also added well-being and exercise content available on KrisWorld to support customers’ entire day of travel.
“A healthier travel experience is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity,” said Kathy Van Ness, general manager and chief operating officer at Golden Door.
With these innovative approaches, Singapore Airlines aims to take the lead in reimagining how we fly and reshaping the travel experience. Because travel begins the moment you board a plane—not when you arrive at the destination.
To learn more, visit singaporeair.com.
