Singapore Airlines confirms plans for two-class Airbus A350ULR
By Chris C., October 19 2016
Singapore Airlines has confirmed that its forthcoming ultra-long range Airbus A350 fleet will likely be a two-class offering when they begin non-stop flights to Los Angeles and New York in 2018.
However, the Star Alliance member hasn't revealed if the two-class layout means business class will be topped by a luxe first class cabin or sit ahead of a compact premium economy zone (or even, gasp, economy!).
While admitting the A350-900ULRs are “likely to be a two-class aircraft”, the airline’s Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Campbell Wilson, told Australian Business Traveller "we haven’t decided on the number of seats, nor have we decided on the exact cabin configuration… that’s still being nailed down."
An Airbus spokesman has previously advised Australian Business Traveller that Singapore Airlines’ long-legged A350 will have around 170 seats – approximately 80 less than its new standard-issue A350-900s.
SQ's two-class layout would likely see most of the cabin space given over to business class.
Also read: Can Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 redefine long-range flying?
Singapore Airlines previously ran non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles and NY-adjacent Newark on older Airbus A340 jets but axed the service in 2013 due to rising fuel bills.
Those A340s were initially fitted with 64 international business class seats and 117 'executive economy class' seats, the later being more akin to domestic business class in width and legroom, although in their final years of flying the jets were upgraded to an all-business class 100 seat layout.
Also read: Singapore Airlines' ultra-long range A350 flights more about sleep than speed
Singapore Airlines Airbus A350ULRs: New York, Los Angeles, then..?
Singapore Airlines’ current order book of seven Airbus A350-900ULRs ultimately allows the carrier to serve one more non-stop destination in North America, apart from Los Angeles and New York.
Wilson explains that the airline is currently considering both San Francisco and “another North American point”, following the airline's launch of ‘regular’ Airbus A350-900 flights to San Francisco.
That’s because the non-stop Singapore-San Francisco route is only possible with a “slight payload restriction” on the standard Airbus A350-900 aircraft – which means fewer paying passengers on board, less cargo and baggage carried underneath, or even all of the above.
Switching that route to the A350ULR version would solve that problem but reduce opportunities elsewhere, “so we’ve got the flexibility of whether we do that, or whether we deploy the ULR to another place,” says Wilson.
Also read:
- Singapore Airlines plans year-round Airbus A350 flights to Australia
- Airbus eyes A350 flights from Australia to Johannesburg, Santiago
- Qantas CEO – no plans to buy more Airbus A380s, are A350s up next?
Chris Chamberlin travelled to Toulouse as a guest of Singapore Airlines and Airbus.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 584
I thought the original seats were the old 747 style spaceseats...not A380 style
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 May 2015
Total posts 55
I wonder if they would do a Dallas or even Atlanta to try and connect to a dub, or do they go to Chicago?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Oct 2016
Total posts 4
Dallas and Atlanta have little to no United presence. Chicago is much better.
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 621
@mangoface:
20 Apr 2015
Total posts 21
My guess is ORD or SEA.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Mar 2016
Total posts 167
Surely they would opt for J and PE? J and F is very risky even for a popular business route especially given SQ J in its own right is excellent.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 465
If you made a A359 all J, would you fit in 170 seats? I am thinking no, so the 2 classes are more likely J & PE, rather than F & J.
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 621
@GregXL:
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 621
@GregXL:
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Mar 2012
Total posts 233
My money would be on J and PE but regardless, that's certainly going to be a LOT of business class seats!
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 621
"An Airbus spokesman has previously advised Australian Business Traveller that Singapore Airlines
08 Jan 2016
Total posts 1
I have two Qantas complimentary guest passes supplied by my Bank. If I gave them to my daughter who is travelling next month will they allow her access, does anyone know?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 465
Flossygirl, your question should be asked in the discussions area, which you can access via Community, choose a subject and then Start a Discussion. I intend doing what you have described, but just assumed it is legitimate. I will be interested to see what answers you get!
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
^^ What Greg said. Flossygirl, we welcome users to ask questions, but they need to be asked in the relevant area. Normally that question would have been removed, but Greg's instructions may prove useful to you, and to others wishing to ask their own question. :)
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 128
Did they specifically say "another North American point"? If so, I wonder if they might be considering Vancouver.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
Hi Arcanum, yes, that's a direct quote. No hints on which North American city was being considered, however, other than the option for San Francisco.
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 621
American Airlines - AAdvantage
29 May 2016
Total posts 2
How much I wish it is ORD? I could use my credit card points to transfer to Krisflyer and get that 15% mileage discount. SQ, I hope you are listening. Mid-America would be much better served thru ORD than any other airport.
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