Sad news for travelers to Asia: Bloomberg is reporting that next year, Singapore Airlines will end its non-stop services to New York’s Newark Airport and Los Angeles, the world’s longest commercial flights, because of rising fuel prices and slower demand for intercontinental trips.
The all-business-class flights will end in the fourth- quarter of next year, the airline said in a statement yesterday, as it announced an order for 25 Airbus SAS aircraft. The Toulouse-based plane-maker will acquire the five four-engine A340-500s used on the routes as part of the deal.
The end of the almost 19-hour Newark service will leave Singapore Air travelers facing a five hour longer trip to New York, as the carrier’s alternative route goes to the city’s JFK airport via Frankfurt. The airline is canceling the non-stop services, which started in 2004, as businesses cutting costs hit long-haul travel.
Average premium-seat fares between Asia and the U.S. were 4.8 percent lower in September than a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Fuel prices have jumped more than 30 percent in the last two years.
This cut in service will leave Qantas' flights between Sydney and Dallas as the record-holder for long-haul trips.
This may be a trend in long-haul service: Cathay Pacific Airways also cut capacity plans on long-haul routes this year, including to North America.