Singapore Airlines' New York non-stop heavily sold

Singapore Airlines' new A350-900ULR non-stop flights to New York, which start on October 11, is proving very popular, say travel agents. The first Airbus A350-900ULR for the service will be delivered to Singapore Airlines next month and passengers can select either business class or premium economy seats. READ: Singapore Airlines teams with wellness experts for long-range flights AirlineRatings.com has spoken to a number of travel agents who all say the service is proving to be a winner with passengers not concerned by the 18 to 19-hour flight. The actual flight path will be due north over China, Mongolia, the North Pole and then onto to Newark Airport in New Jersey.

The service will be the world's longest and the aircraft has 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy seats. The A350-900ULR achieves its long range through a modified fuel system, which increases the aircraft’s fuel carrying capacity by 24,000 liters without the need for additional fuel tanks. It has a maximum take-off weight of 280 tonnes.

The A350 has been a great success for Airbus, which had recorded 882 firm orders from 46 customers by the end of June. Singapore Airlines is one of the largest customers for the A350 XWB Family, having ordered a total of 67 A350-900s, including the seven ULR  models. The carrier has already taken delivery of 21 A350-900s.