Singapore Airlines launched the world's longest commercial flight to New York on October 11 night with its Airbus A350-900 ULR taking off from the Changi International Airport.

A spokeswoman for Singapore Airlines said that Flight SQ22 departed at approximately 11:35pm with 150 passengers and 17 crew aboard. It is scheduled to land at the Newark airport after a 16,700-km journey in at least 18 hours and 25 minutes.

The long-range Airbus A350-900ULR is configured to carry up to 161 passengers - 67 in business class and 94 in premium economy, with no regular economy seats available.

For the flight crew - which also includes two first officers and a 13-strong cabin contingent - the workload will be broken up, the airline said, with each pilot having a minimum eight hours' rest during the flight.

Singapore Airlines once again set a record in terms of the longest flight in the world. The airline originally flew the route for nine years using the gas-guzzling, four-engine A340-500 before abandoning it in 2013 because high oil prices made the service unprofitable.

Earlier, Qatar Airways Flight 921 flew from Auckland to Doha, taking 17 hours and 40 minutes.

(Source: VNA)