The definition of ultra long-haul flight is characterized as a flight which is non-stop, longer than 12 hours and further than 12000 kilometers (7456 miles).
Currently, Singapore Airlines flight SQ 21/22 is the longest ULH flight in scheduled service, operating daily direct flights from Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN/WSSS) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR/KEWR) and back, using an Airbus A340-541.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A340-541, 9V-SGA, MSN 492 @ KEWR
Officially, the longest range airliner in the world is unquestionably, the Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner.
Delta Air Lines Boeing 777-232LR, N710DN, MSN/LN 40560/857 @ KPAE
With a maximum range of 17310 kilometers (10973 miles), the range can be increased by restricting cargo and pax load.
I have been experimenting with Great Circle Mapper and plotting out conjectural and prospective ULH routes, even to the point of breaking ETOPS 207 rules for the 772L…
For example, a flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG/ZSPD) to Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery International Airport (AEP/SABE) covers 19625 kilometers (12194 miles) in a flight lasting 22 hours 18 minutes at an average speed of 880 km/h (546 mph).
Obviously such a ULH flight from ZSPD to SABE would be impossible even for a 772L (flying across the Antarctic seems to tax its ETOPS 207 limits).
Would ULH flights longer than SQ21/22 be feasible, even with global-range aircraft like the A345 and B772LR? Or a new generation of ULH-oriented aircraft be developed by Airbus and Boeing?
Would ULH flights be more economical to airlines as they do not have to pay for additional fuel in stopovers?
Have you ever been in a ULH flight before, and what were your experiences?
Your responses and ideas are welcome.
By: chornedsnorkack - 2nd November 2011 at 15:21
It’s an interesting topic though. Is anyone able to identify the longest passenger all-class flight available today?
Might be QaNTAS Sydney-Dallas. Done with 747-400ER. Does QF serve Dallas with 4 class 747-400ER or 3 class 747-400ER?
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd November 2011 at 08:22
According to GCM, LHR-SIN is 10,888km in distance, so this would not qualify as ULH, as it has to be over 12,000km. Same for LHR-LAX, which comes up at 8,780km.;)
Oh, ok. Mind you, those sectors seem like ULH. The LAX-AKL sector is especially tedious.
By: symon - 1st November 2011 at 06:56
Aren’t Singapore Airlines’ A340-500s all configured in a Business Class only layout with around 100 seats each? Therefore, despite the increased weight of the business class seats, there will be weight savings overall. Which may explain why the SIN-EWR is possible for them.
It’s an interesting topic though. Is anyone able to identify the longest passenger all-class flight available today?
By: Arabella-Cox - 31st October 2011 at 19:36
I am sure I read somewhere (maybe this forum), that ULH is somewhat financially contraindicated by the costs of hauling all of that fuel round, and I am assuming staff hours will come into it, carrying round a number of extra ‘heads’ and food make it cheaper to have an extra landing and take off.
By: j_jza80 - 31st October 2011 at 18:20
how will people who want to live under sharia law cohabitate with those who do not…… Pretty scary stuff really.
Welcome to the UK 😀
By: Ship 741 - 31st October 2011 at 15:34
Imho these ULH flights are one of the reasons why the 787 has a lower cabin altitude and humidity control.
On the one hand, it’s easy to see that ULH flying will continue to grow as the 787 rolls out……it is smaller, thus more suitable for long, thin routes. It is also extremely efficient, which might make those routes profitable.
On the other hand, how much demand is there between relatively few city pairs? For those few city pairs, one can generally find a hub to connect in, and many people prefer to break up the flight anyway. Also, with the state of the world economy, one wonders how much demand will exist for these flights. I suppose, once the economy gets rolling again, India and China will be the main destinations, from all over the world.
One also wonders about the sociological aspects of making all these cultures so much closer together…how will people who want to live under sharia law cohabitate with those who do not…..not to mention the medical factors, drug-resistant TB for example. Pretty scary stuff really.
By: Flightmech - 31st October 2011 at 12:00
Amazing the sector lengths possible these days. FedEx currently flies the 777-200LRF MEM-DXB. Fridays leg was 13:56 flight/14:21 block with a good payload but came in at a measly 6903 NM:D
By: cloud_9 - 31st October 2011 at 10:57
According to GCM, LHR-SIN is 10,888km in distance, so this would not qualify as ULH, as it has to be over 12,000km. Same for LHR-LAX, which comes up at 8,780km.;)
By: Arabella-Cox - 31st October 2011 at 07:52
London-Singapore must come into this category. I flew it on a SIA A380 and even in that vastly superior aircraft (in terms of comfort), it is a long haul.
Also, ANZ Flight NZ1 from LHR-LAX-AKL must be one of the longest, with each sector being in the region of 12-13 hours.
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October 31, 2011 at 7:29 am