It seems Singapore Airlines plans with the Airbus A350-900ULR are coming to a head, with plans to launch the direct sevice on 2nd Novmeber 2018
Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900URL – Rendering. Singapore Airlines
Utilising an Airbus A350-900URL (The Ultra Long Range variant of the Airbus A350), the planned operation is as follows
SQ038 DEPART SIN 20:45 ARRIVE 19:55 SQ037 DEPART LAX 22:25 ARRIVE 08:15+2 SQ038/037 commences 2nd November, operating Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, Full daily operation from 9th November. Booked Equipment: Airbus A350-900ULR
This frequency is further increased from the 7th December, with an additional three services a week – bringing the operation to 10 flights a week between Singapore and Los Angeles.
SQ036 DEPART SIN 08:20 ARRIVE 07:30 SQ035 DEPART LAX 09:15 ARRIVE SIN 19:05+2 Commences 7th December 2018 SQ036/035 operates Wednesday, Friday, Sunday Booked Equipment: Airbus A350-900ULR
With the introduction of the new direct service the Singapore-Seoul Incheon-Los Angeles service will be suspended from the 30th November, with the Singapore-Seoul Incheon service being maintained at four services a day with a new flight (SQ612). The one-stop service via Toyko will be retained – giving an effective service pattern of 17 flights a week between Singapore and Los Angeles.
Whilst Los Angeles gets the major service change, San Francsico gets a service bump from three extra flights a week to 10, with SQ34/33 operating Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – bumping up the route to 17 frequencies a week. These again will be operated as direct flights.
SQ034 DEPART SIN 15:20 ARRIVE SFO 13:50 SQ033 DEAPRT SFO 20:10 ARRIVE SIN 05:40+2 Commences: 28 November 2018. Operates Wednesday, Friday and Sunday Booked Equipment: Airbus A350-900ULR
On the launch of the Los Angeles route, Singapore Airlines CEO, Mr Goh Choon Phong states:
“Our US services have always been popular with our customers and we are pleased to be able to provide even more travel options with the launch of non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles, and an increase in frequency on the existing non-stop Singapore-San Francisco route,”
“Together with our non-stop flights between Singapore and New York that will launch in October, SIA will redefine the convenience of travelling between Singapore and the United States, delivering on our promise to constantly enhance the travel experience of our customers.”
The A350-900ULR’s will be in a two class format,with:
- 67 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 formation
- 97 Premium Economy Seats primarily in a 2-4-2 formation, with 1-4-1 towards the aft of the plane
The seat map is published at https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/OurFleet/A350-900-ULR.pdf
Business Class seat
Premium Economy Seating – Image, Singapore Airlines
With the expansion of service, by December – the airline will operate 53 flights a week from Singapore to the United States of America.
The question of course is simple with these Ultra long haul services – can you be comfortable in a carbon fibre tube for the long distances these planes fly?
The one thing that these services do however – it will create direct non-stop flows. The bigger question is, with rising fuel prices – will these services sustainable in the long-term?
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