Singapore Airlines to relaunch the world’s longest flights
Singapore Airlines will relaunch the world’s longest flights when it deploys the new Ultra-Long Range version of the A350-900 on non-stop flights from Singapore Changi International Airport to Newark and Los Angeles. The airline previously offered flights to both these destinations using the A340-500, but both routes were cancelled in 2013 when the aircraft were retired.
SIA’s original order of 63 A350-900s has now been increased to 67, with seven of the aircraft being upgraded to have Ultra-Long Range capabilities. The aircraft will have a range of 8,700 nautical miles, sufficient to fly the 19-hour, non-stop flight to the US. The increase is due to a modified fuel system that increases the fuel carrying capacity, an increase in Maximum Take-Off Weight, and aerodynamic improvements. The first A350-900ULRs are expected to be delivered to the airline in 2018. Nonstop flights between Singapore and other destinations in the US are also being considered. Currently, the world’s longest flight is Qantas Airways’ Sydney to Dallas service using Airbus’s A380 superjumbo.
Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said:
“Our customers have been asking us to re-start non-stop Singapore-US flights and we are pleased that Airbus was able to offer the right aircraft to do so in a commercially viable manner. This is another example of how we strive to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations by remaining at the forefront of product and service innovation in our industry. It will also further strengthen the Singapore hub by providing the fastest and most convenient air connectivity between North America and Southeast Asia.” Airbus currently has a total of 783 orders for the A350 XWB from 41 customers. Singapore Airlines will begin receiving the first of its 67 aircraft in the first quarter of 2016 and the aircraft will enter service on the Singapore – Amsterdam route by April 2016. Read more here.
