Singapore Airlines is preparing for the resumption of its Singapore Changi Airport to New York scheduled flight, and Business Traveller is onboard to report.
The flight last took place in 2013 with an A340-500. That was discontinued because of the high costs involved (the A340-500 has four engines, and was fuel-thirsty compared with the new generation aircraft).
To maximise the chances of success for the resumption of this flight, Singapore Airlines has ordered a variant of its A350-900 aircraft. In total it has ordered 67 of these, but the specially adapted A350-900ULR has larger fuel tanks and improved fuel consumption, something it will need with oil prices currently rising.
It also has fewer passengers onboard. The airline has configured the aircraft with just 161 seats: 94 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration and 67 flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.
To see a review of flying in premium economy on board the (standard) A350-900, see the below
And to see a review of the business class, also standard, see
Note that the business class seats onboard are the same ones you get onboard the ‘standard’ A350-900, not the new ones we saw on the A380 form Singapore Airlines. Review of those below
Still, this is something new (those reviews of the A350-900 were for eight or nine hour flights). This New York flight is expected to take around 19 hours, on average, which is the whole of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogies, assuming they are showing them.
Like the Qantas long haul between London and Perth, review below
Singapore Airlines has created a ‘Wellness Set Menu’ with a Canyon Ranch partnership offering food that improves sleep and promotes circulation.
There’s also wifi on board so you can keep friends and relatives informed as to your welfare, or just geographical position.
The aircraft can fly up to 9,700 nautical miles, and has involved the adaptation of the fuel system within the existing fuel tank allowing it to fly up to 20 hours.
Presumably the passengers on the inaugural will hope this is not necessary this evening, with the flight time being estimated as 18 hours and 35 minutes.
We will find out when the flight report lands sometime tomorrow.
