Singapore Airlines has flown into the commercial flight distance record books for the second time this year, with an A340-500 successfully inaugurating the carrier’s latest non-stop round trip commercial air service between Singapore and New York (Newark). The A340-500 departed at 12.25 Singapore local time on 28 th June and completed the 16,600 km / 9,000 nm sector to New York in 18 hours 18 minutes. The airline beat its own previous record distance for a non-stop round trip commercial service, when it introduced the A340-500 on the service between Singapore and Los Angeles on 3 rd February 2004. On that occasion, the A340-500 completed the 14,093 km / 7,609 nm sector to Los Angeles in 14 hours 42 minutes.

Singapore Airlines’ fleet of five A340-500s are all configured with 64 enhanced Raffles Business Class and 117 Executive Economy Class seats. The cabins for both classes feature special areas and amenities for passengers to stretch their legs, socialise and relax on ultra long haul services.

With four Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines for the best economy on ultra long haul flights, the A340-500 enjoys unmatched operational flexibility on non-stop flights over remote areas – such as oceans, mountain ranges and polar regions.

“I am delighted to congratulate Singapore Airlines on successfully completing its latest A340-500 record breaking non stop flight between South East Asia and North America. Airbus is very proud to be to be sharing in Singapore Airlines’ aim of making the world a smaller place” said Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer Noel Forgeard.

The Airbus A330/A340 family is the market leader in its class, with almost 850 orders from 64 customers worldwide. It is the aircraft family that passengers prefer to travel on for long haul flights, consistently emerging top in independent passenger surveys.

Singapore Airlines placed its original A340-500 order for five firm and five option aircraft in1999. The airline is also a launch customer for the A380 Double Decker with 10 firm orders and 15 options. Singapore Airlines will be the first airline to put the A380 into service in spring 2006.

A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is a joint EADS Company with BAE Systems.


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