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Singapore Airlines receives maiden A350ULR
September 28th 2018
Singapore Airlines (SIA) took delivery of the world’s first A350-900 ultra-long-range (ULR) aircraft last Saturday. Read More » The ULR variant is capable of flying further than any other aircraft, with a range of up to 9,700 nautical miles or more than 20 hours of non-stop flying.
SIA has ordered seven A350-900ULR aircraft, configured in a two-class layout: 67 business class and 94 premium economy class seats. The Singapore flag carrier is the only airline to have ordered the ULR.
The Star Alliance member will begin operating the ULR on October 11, when it will launch an 18 hour and 45 minutes non-stop service from Singapore to Newark. Following Newark, the aircraft will enter service with SIA to Los Angeles from November.
“This is a proud moment for both Singapore Airlines and Airbus, not only because we have again strengthened our partnership, but also because we have pushed the limits with this highly advanced new aircraft to extend long-range flying to new lengths,” said SIA CEO, Goh Choon Phong. “The A350-900ULR will bring more convenience and comfort to our customers and will enable us to operate ultra-long-range flights in a commercially viable manner. It will help us boost our network competitiveness and further grow the Singapore hub.”
“Today’s delivery is a milestone for Airbus and Singapore Airlines, as together we open a new chapter in non-stop air travel,” said Airbus CEO, Tom Enders. “With its unrivalled range and step-change in fuel efficiency, the A350 is uniquely placed to meet demand for new ultra-long-haul services.”
The A350-900ULR is based on the A350-900. The main change over the standard variant is a modified fuel system, enabling the fuel carrying capacity to be increased by 24,000 litres, to 165,000 litres. This extends the range of the aircraft without the need for more fuel tanks. In addition, the aircraft features a number of aerodynamic enhancements, including extended winglets, which are now being applied to all in-production A350-900 aircraft.
SIA is one of the best customers for the A350 line. It has placed orders for 60 standard A350-900s and seven ULRs. Including last Saturday’s delivery, the airline has 22 A350 XWBs in its fleet.
