Singapore Airlines takes delivery of world’s first Airbus A350ULR

Singapore Airlines took delivery of its latest aircraft at a delivery ceremony this morning, the world’s first Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range). The aircraft, which is the first of 7 such examples due for delivery to the airline this year, will fly to Singapore in the coming days and is set to enter service non-stop between Singapore and Newark on 11th October 2018, re-starting a route last flown by Singapore Airlines five years ago.

The Singapore Airlines A350-900ULR

SIA is the launch customer for the new A350-900ULR.

Here are some facts about the new plane:

• It’s range is up to 9,700 nautical miles (nm), or over 20 hours non-stop.
• The flight to Newark will cover a distance of approximately 9,000nm (16,700km), and last up to 18 hours 45 minutes.
• Airbus quote the typical seating capacity of an A350-900 as 325, however this aircraft will hold just 161 passengers in a two-class layout; 67 Business Class seats (2013 J) and 94 Premium Economy Class seats (these).
• The maximum takeoff weight is 280 tonnes, 5 tonnes more than the A350-900.
• 110 tonnes of the aircraft weight is fuel with the tanks fully loaded.
• Singapore Airlines may end up being the world’s only operator of the A350-900ULR, after Qantas ruled out the aircraft as too small for its own upcoming 20-hour non-stop Australia to Europe flights.

Which routes?

The A350-900ULR will fly non-stop services to three major US cities by the end of 2018. The routes for this new aircraft will be:

• Newark from 11th October 2018 as SQ21/22 (3 times per week, increasing to daily from 18th October 2018)
• Los Angeles from 2nd November 2018 as SQ37/38 (3 times per week, increasing to daily from 9th November 2018)
• San Francisco from 28th November 2018 as SQ33/34 (3 times per week)

In the case of Newark and Los Angeles these flights will mark the re-start of non-stop services by Singapore Airlines last operated by the Airbus A340-500 five years ago.

Our other A350ULR coverage

We outlined the details of this new aircraft in our Newark route announcement in May and in a special article about the cabin layout.

We also did a special feature about the enhanced Premium Economy seats installed on this ultra long range plane, with some added comfort and individual window seats ideal for those travelling solo in this cabin.

Of course we also covered the Los Angeles and San Francisco route announcements in July.

You can read our comprehensive review from earlier this year of the 2013 Business Class seat on the Singapore Airlines A350.

Production video

Singapore Airlines has released a video highlighting the production and testing of this new aircraft variant. You can view it below.

The full Singapore Airlines press release relating to today’s delivery can be found here.

Are you planning to fly non-stop between Singapore and the USA on the A350-900ULR? Let us know in the comments section below.

(Cover Photo: Singapore Airlines)