SINGAPORE – United Airlines will be launching daily non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles on Oct 27, said the airlines in a statement on Thursday (June 1).  

Though subject to government approval, the flight between Los Angeles International Airport and Singapore’s Changi Airport will be the longest flight for any airline operating a flight to or from the United States at 8,700 miles (14,000km). This surpasses United’s existing service between San Francisco International Airport and Singapore which started last year.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will operate both routes.

The launch of the new non-stop service between Singapore and LA also means that the airline will terminate its flight services from Hong Kong to Singapore on Oct 27, and from Singapore to Hong Kong on Oct 28.

In the statement, United’s senior vice president of worldwide sales said: “Whether our customers are on leisure or business travel, United is making travel to Singapore easier and even more convenient than ever before.” 

The flight from LA to Singapore will take approximately 18 hours, departing LA at 8:55pm (US time) and arriving in Changi at 6:50am (Singapore time), two days later. 

The return flight from Singapore to LA will take approximately 15 hours, departing Changi at 11am (Singapore time) and arriving at LA at 10.15am (US time) the same day.  

Currently, United operates daily non-stop flights between Singapore and San Francisco, and has provided the service for more than 30 years. 

Singapore Airlines (SIA) used to operate the longest non-stop flights between Singapore and the US, with direct flights to both Los Angeles and New York. These routes take between 16 and 19 hours. 

However, they stopped these operations in 2013. 

In June 2016, SIA re-introduced its US flights, announcing direct flights from Singapore to San Francisco with flying times between 14 to 17 hours. It also revealed plans to bring back the Singapore to Los Angeles flight in 2018 when a new variant of the A350-900 aircrafts will begin operations. 

“This historic route to Singapore will bring more flights, tourists and economic growth to Los Angeles," said Deborah Flint, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports. “United’s daily nonstop flight to Singapore will further strengthen LA’s cultural and economic relationship with Singapore,” she added.