By traveleditor Carsten A. Andersen

(Singapore) Not since Airbus 380 in October 2007 landed at Changi Airport in Singapore, there have been so many ministers, VIPs, CEO, Media and curious, as when the Airbus 350 this week landed in Singapore.

Water cannons, live report on TV, flags and speeches by top officials from the airline industry received the first of Singapore Airlines (SIA) 67 new Airbus 350 aircraft, which will be the company’s next generation of longhaul aircraft.

The list price for an Airbus 350 aircraft is 304 million US Dollars. Singapore Airlines has been discounted because SIA is the biggest customer for the A 350-900. But the exact price is a secret.

SIA will over the next 18 months have 18 aircraft delivered. The first aircraft will be flying Singapore – Amsterdam May 9 and Singapore – Dusseldorf on July 21. Other destinations will be announced later.

SIA currently flies five times a week Copenhagen – Singapore, the only departure from Scandinavia, in very close cooperation with SAS.

“Is Airbus 350 to fly Copenhagen – Singapore?”
“It is an option. But we do not say that it is the only aircraft that can be used on the route. What new aircraft we use for new destinations and expansion is something we will inform about later, “said Goh Choon Phong, CEO, Singapore Airlines, to TTO Scandinavia during the premier flight of the new Airbus 350 from Toulouse to Singapore. A 12 hours and 10 minutes flight.
“Is the goal to get daily flights Copenhagen – Singapore?

“It would be logical to work towards daily departures from Copenhagen. But it will not be determined by us alone. Before we go on with daily departures, double daily flights etc. should we talk to our partner SAS,” said Goh Choon Phong.

He has an excellent knowledge of Copenhagen and Scandinavia, because he was in 1996, a year general manager of SIA residing in Copenhagen.

“It would be logical to work towards daily departures from Copenhagen. But it will not be determined by us alone. Before we go on with daily departures, double daily flights etc. we should talk to our partner SAS, ” said Goh Choon Phong.

He has an excellent knowledge of Copenhagen and Scandinavia, because he was one year in 1996 general manager of SIA residing in Copenhagen.

“The A350 is a key element in our overall capacity growth and fleet renewal strategy. Its improved operating efficiency offers us the opportunity to open up even more new routes, providing more travel options to our customers,”says Goh Choon Phong.

“With its arrival, Singapore Airlines is staying true to our longstanding commitment to maintain a young and modern fleet of aircraft. The A350 will ultimately enable us to help further enhance the three main pillars of the Singapore Airlines brand promise: service excellence, product leadership and network connectivity.”

Wish

Flight with A 350 Copenhagen – Singapore has long been a wish by SIA´s office in Copenhagen. SIA currently flies Boeing 777-200 with 30 Business and 228 in Economy.
But Business Class is almost always full.

Singapore Airlines A350 will be fitted with 253 seats in three classes, with 42 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy Class and 187 in Economy Class.

Airbus

Airbus has so far delivered 16 A350 aircraft to five airlines. Total Airbus has orders for 580 aircraft.

A350-900 is the cornerstone member of Airbus’ new A350 XWB which is suited to meet airlines’ market requirements in medium-, long-, and ultra-long-haul operations.

This jetliner accommodates 325 passengers in a three-class configuration with a range of up to 7,600 nautical miles in its standard configuration.

The 221-inch interior cross-section provides room for premium class configurations at up to six- or seven-abreast seating, along with featuring comfort economy class layouts at nine abreast, with versatility for eight and ten-abreast arrangements.

As part of its philosophy for continuous innovation, Airbus has launched the Ultra-Long Range version of the A350-900. Designated as the A350-900ULR, the jetliner offers increased fuel-carrying capacity of up to 165,000 litres and a higher 280-tonne maximum takeoff weight to enable service on non-stop flights of up to 19 hours.

Ultra longhaul, Airbus 350 -1000, will do Singapore Airlines able to fly direct Singapore – United States from 2018.

So far, two US destinations are on the program, New York and Los Angeles, while a third destination in the United States will be announced later.

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