Industry First A350 XWB Ultra Long Range rolls out of paintshop

The aircraft now features the distinctive livery of Singapore Airlines.

As the delivery for the first A350 XWB ULR is planned in the coming months, the aircraft will undergo further testing beforehand. Launch customer Singapore Airlines will use the aircraft for ultra-long-haul routes.

In total, Singapore Airlines has ordered seven A350-900 ULR aircraft. The first test aircraft is currently being fitted with the operator´s cabin, after the redesigned fuel system was tested over the course of a flight test programme by Airbus.

The Singaporean carrier will deploy the A350 ULR primarily on ultra-long-haul routes between Singapore and the United States. The aircraft will fly from Singapore to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Moreover, the world´s longest route between Singapore and New York will be reopened. In June 2018, the carrier announced to relaunch the world´s longest commercial flight, after it had ceased to operate the route following the retirement of the Airbus A340-500 fleet.

Airbus´ A350 ULR has a maximum take-off weight (MOTW) of 280 tonnes. With a newly designed fuel system, the aircraft is capable of flying more than 20 hours non-stop, while maintaining good passenger comfort and operational economics. 24,000 litres of fuel can be carried without the need for additional fuel tanks. The extended range reflects in the capability to fly up to 9,700 nautical miles.

Singapore Airlines is the flag carrier of Singapore and operates a hub at Changi Airport. The airline was founded in 1947 and commenced operations in October 1972. Currently, its fleet consists of 120 long-haul aircraft. The airline operates 20 Airbus A330s, 21 A350s, 19 A380s, seven Boeing 747Fs, 47 Boeing 777s and six 787 Dreamliners.

The carrier is one of the largest A350 XWB Family customer, having ordered 67 A350-900s in total. To date, the carrier has taken delivery of 21 A350-900s.