The airline has ordered seven A350-900 Ultra Long Range aircraft from Airbus, and all of them are in various stages of assembly. The first aircraft to have flown has successfully completed its flight test programme, which focused on the redesigned fuel system. It is now being fitted with its cabin.
The airline will operate the aircraft on non-stop services from Singapore to the US. This includes flights between Singapore and New York, which will be the world’s longest commercial service, as well as on routes to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Ultra Long Range A350-900 is the latest variant of the A350 XWB Family, and will have an extended range of up to 9,700 nautical miles. According to Airbus, this is achieved through a modified fuel system, which increases the aircraft’s fuel carrying capacity by 24,000 litres (6,340 gal) without the need for additional fuel tanks.
The A350 XWB family of widebody aircraft features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, as well as new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these technologies translate into a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, in addition to significantly lower maintenance costs.
At the end of June 2018, Airbus has recorded a total of 882 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 46 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.
Singapore Airlines is one of the largest customers for the A350 XWB Family, having ordered a total of 67 A350-900s, including the seven Ultra Long Range models. The carrier has already taken delivery of 21 A350-900s.
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