A350-900 ready for Singapore Airlines - Curt Lewis

Airbus Readies First Singapore Airlines' A350 for Delivery

The first Airbus A350-900 for Singapore Airlines has successfully performed its first test flight, as it is readied for delivery in the coming weeks.

Singapore Airlines will become the second Asian carrier to fly the A350 after Vietnam Airlines and the fifth operator in the world of the type. This aircraft (MSN 0026) will wear the airline's standard iconic livery, and will now enter into the final phase of production, including additional ground checks and pre-delivery test flights.

Singapore Airlines will rely on the A350 as the mainstay for its mid-size widebody fleet. According to Airbus, the airline has placed orders for 67 A350-900, including an ultra-long-range ULR) variant to resume non-stop services from its hub at Changi airport to Los Angeles and Newark. Those routes were previously operated with A340-500 aircraft, but were dropped in 2013 due to high fuel costs and low load factors.

The first ten Singapore A350s will be configured with 42 business class seats, plus 24 seats in premium economy and 187 in economy. The carrier expects to enter into service at the end of 1Q 2016. To date, Airbus has reaped a total of 777 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 41 customers worldwide. Current operators are Qatar Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Finnair and TAM.