Singapore Airlines to resume direct flights to New York, as optimism for air travel grows

Singapore’s national carrier will start the over 18 hour flights to New York’s JFK Airport from November, as passenger and cargo demand grows

Industry research shows the desire to travel remains strong in Europe, the US and Asia, despite coronavirus restrictions

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Singapore Airlines, which is also operating flights to Los Angeles, said the resumption of its New York flights shows that customers are increasingly confident about air travel. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:49am, 21 Oct 2020Updated: 9:20pm, 21 Oct 2020

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will resume non-stop flights to New York next month, this time flying to John F Kennedy Airport rather than nearby Newark Liberty International Airport, the company said on Tuesday.

The thrice-weekly non-stop flights from Changi Airport will start from November 9 using the Airbus A350-900. Flights back to Changi Airport will start two days later on November 11, SIA said. At a scheduled 18 hours, 40 minutes, this will be the world’s longest non-stop flight.

The national carrier suspended its non-stop service to Newark in March as Covid-19 battered travel demand. Newark is about 15km from New York City, but is in the state of New Jersey.

SIA said that the flights would allow the airline to better accommodate a mix of passenger and cargo traffic “in the current operating climate”. It added that the non-stop services would also be supported by the growing number of passengers who are now able to transit at Changi Airport.

SIA said it anticipates “significant cargo demand” from a range of industries based in the New York metro area such as pharmaceuticals, e-commerce and technology firms.