Inaugural SQ SIN-EWR A359ULR 11 October 2018

qf789 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:05 am

Welcome to the dedicated thread on the inaugural A350-900ULR service operated by Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Newark. This flight will overtake DOH-AKL as the longest route served by an airline.

I have been reliably informed that this first service will be operated by 9V-SGB. This will also make this the first commercial service for 9V-SGB

Please add your comments below, for those onboard we would like to hear about your experience of the flight

For those interested here is the flight plan

https://twitter.com/brendanqf789/status ... 4503139328

LAX772LR · Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:32 am

Good to see it back. Anyone have any insight into what the loads are like?

Hope someone posts pics of the (re)inaugural party!

master14225 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:34 am

If this is possible, then SQ should bring back SIN-YVR asap with an A350

StTim · Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:45 am

I wonder if they will be conservative with loads initially. As far as I can tell the ULR has never flown this distance even in test.

Yes I know they have lots of tests and can extrapolate for the ULR’s on known A350 performance but still interesting.

murchmo · Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:14 am

Flight # SQ22 for anyone who wants to follow along...all...day...

B747forever · Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:44 am

SQ has now completed their main goals in the US with nonstop service to SFO, LAX and EWR. It has been a long road back, but they are finally there now!

PR77W · Thu Oct 11, 2018 8:10 am

master14225 wrote:
If this is possible, then SQ should bring back SIN-YVR asap with an A350

I think it is possible to have direct flight between SIN-YVR by using a Standard configured A350-900 with an increased MTOW of 2 rather then the premum heavy A350-900ULR variant.

huaiwei · Thu Oct 11, 2018 8:39 am

"The airline's revenue contribution from the Americas region is currently at 14 per cent, down from 20 per cent in 2013 due to the loss of the non-stop flights, Corrine Png, CEO of transport research firm Crucial Perspective, said. "Operating trans-Pacific connecting flights opened Singapore Airlines to a lot more competition from other carriers and resulted in the loss of high-yielding business traffic," she said. "We expect Singapore Airlines to regain market share, especially in the premium travel market.""

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/si ... 082018_cna

For the folks who insist SQ can only operate transpac flights profitably through connecting traffic, or that SIN is "too far south" / "too small" to support non-stop flights.

george77300 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 9:14 am

PR77W wrote:
master14225 wrote:
If this is possible, then SQ should bring back SIN-YVR asap with an A350

I think it is possible to have direct flight between SIN-YVR by using a Standard configured A350-900 with an increased MTOW of 2 rather then the premum heavy A350-900ULR variant.

YVR would be easy with normal A350. They fly SIN-SFO with it and that is over an hour further.

MalevA346 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 9:25 am

This is great news, I was so sad when it got axed.

I now have to start saving money to fly business class once on this route. It's a dream of mine!
Flying Malev 767 BUD-JFK did not happen for me, I cannot make the same mistake 2 times in 1 life!

EWR777 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:32 am

Track live here: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worl ... index.html

STT757 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:57 am

The linked article says it will land at EWR 6:00am tomorrow (Friday), that’s usually when I pass by on the Turnpike on my way to work. Hoping I get a glimpse tomorrow.

itisi · Thu Oct 11, 2018 11:01 am

Friend will be on it, on his way to SIN now.

A3801000 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 11:43 am

2 tickets still available in PE, $ 2.154 each

qf789 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:03 pm

According to reports flight time of today’s flight will be 17 hours, scheduled time is 18 hours 45 minutes

https://twitter.com/airline_ratings/sta ... 69600?s=21

qf789 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:05 pm

SQ not giving business class passengers PJ’s, this may not go down well with some

https://twitter.com/ausbt/status/105028 ... 65824?s=21

airbazar · Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:18 pm

StTim wrote:
I wonder if they will be conservative with loads initially. As far as I can tell the ULR has never flown this distance even in test.

Yes I know they have lots of tests and can extrapolate for the ULR’s on known A350 performance but still interesting.

I expect it to be quite the opposite. SQ and Airbus will want to take full advantage of the marketing potential. There will be media and other guests onboard. The last thing they want is to show empty seats.

YYZflyboy · Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:50 pm

PR77W wrote:
master14225 wrote:
If this is possible, then SQ should bring back SIN-YVR asap with an A350

I think it is possible to have direct flight between SIN-YVR by using a Standard configured A350-900 with an increased MTOW of 2 rather then the premum heavy A350-900ULR variant.

Wealthy Indian/Indonesian/Singaporean/Malaysian diaspora in BC can help fill both cabins on the plane for VFR travel!

They can also tap on connections with AC (a *A carrier on slightly more friendly terms than with UA) for pre-cleared cross-border traffic to SEA, PDX, and DEN if they were to fly to YVR. Now, AC REALLY needs to start BOI (where lots of SAF servicemen do training), and this flight will be a slam-dunk.

Bernard

qf002 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:51 pm

airbazar wrote:
The last thing they want is to show empty seats.

A few empty seats is better than diverting for fuel!!

Not that I think either measure will be necessary.

teme82 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:54 pm

I wonder why that type of routing... GCM gives direct route over Russia and the north pole...

Erebus · Thu Oct 11, 2018 1:12 pm

teme82 wrote:
I wonder why that type of routing... GCM gives direct route over Russia and the north pole...

Perhaps favourable winds? Not sure.

LupineChemist · Thu Oct 11, 2018 1:25 pm

StTim wrote:
I wonder if they will be conservative with loads initially. As far as I can tell the ULR has never flown this distance even in test.

Yes I know they have lots of tests and can extrapolate for the ULR’s on known A350 performance but still interesting.

Didn't they test on the delivery flight by taking a particularly long route from TLS to SIN.?

StTim · Thu Oct 11, 2018 1:37 pm

LupineChemist wrote:
StTim wrote:
I wonder if they will be conservative with loads initially. As far as I can tell the ULR has never flown this distance even in test.

Yes I know they have lots of tests and can extrapolate for the ULR’s on known A350 performance but still interesting.

Didn't they test on the delivery flight by taking a particularly long route from TLS to SIN.?

It was long but still it was not the same distance as the SIN-EWR flight and we do not know what loads they were carrying...

airbazar · Thu Oct 11, 2018 1:49 pm

qf002 wrote:
airbazar wrote:
The last thing they want is to show empty seats.

A few empty seats is better than diverting for fuel!!

Not that I think either measure will be necessary.

Right. Short of a mechanical problem the chances of that happening are zero. They've been flying this plane on SFO-SIN for 2 years. I've seen that flight approach the 18 hours. They know its capabilities very well, and they only have 160 seats on this one and I doubt they are carrying any cargo on the inaugural.

BobMUC · Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:59 pm

Now online on FR24:
https://www.flightradar24.com/1e2d36ae

ojjunior · Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:11 pm

BobMUC wrote:
Now online on FR24:
https://www.flightradar24.com/1e2d36ae

Just departed.
FR says:
GREAT CIRCLE DISTANCE: 15,345 KM
53 KM 00:06 AGO
15,340 KM IN 19:29

Of course it's just predictive but Dear Lord being stuck for 19+ hours...

BirdBrain · Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:13 pm

Just got airborne and made a right turn. A bit late departure but probably will make up along the way, if needed. I heard winds are great and will reduce today's flight by almost 30min. Maybe the plan is not to arrive too early and spoil the party. Exciting times.

readytotaxi · Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:39 pm

Did SQ release what the menu would be offering across this time zone incase you get bored with the IFE?

sholmes · Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:44 pm

ojjunior wrote:
Of course it's just predictive but Dear Lord being stuck for 19+ hours...

Not really: this inaugural flight should take "only" about 17 hrs, with a very early arrival in EWR.

BobMUC · Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:58 pm

BobMUC wrote:
Now online on FR24:
https://www.flightradar24.com/1e2d36ae

Corrected call sign:
https://www.flightradar24.com/SIA22/1e2d2efc

ojjunior · Thu Oct 11, 2018 5:59 pm

BirdBrain wrote:
Just got airborne and made a right turn. A bit late departure but probably will make up along the way, if needed. I heard winds are great and will reduce today's flight by almost 30min. Maybe the plan is not to arrive too early and spoil the party. Exciting times.

Well, we gonna have to wait for more couple hours to get an updated ETA but so far EWR spotters might have to wake up really early:

DATE FROM TO AIRCRAFT FLIGHT TIME STD ATD STA STATUS
11 Oct 2018 Singapore (SIN) New York (EWR) A359 (9V-SGB) - 23:35 23:59 06:00 Estimated 05:32

MSPNWA · Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:03 pm

Great to see this route come back. Amazing that it's being done now with a twin. But, there's no substitute for the A345.

ltbewr · Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:07 pm

A number of flights on northern approach to EWR (about 10 miles away) pass over or near my home. Too bad it is a bit too early and dark for me to look out for. I recall seeing the previous flights fly over. I am very glad that this is returning to the historic airport EWR is. I bet the big PANYNJ, NJ and NY State officials will be there to greet it as this flight is big news.
What terminal and gate will this flight use at EWR upon arrival and departure ?

AEROFAN · Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:40 pm

qf789 wrote:
SQ not giving business class passengers PJ’s, this may not go down well with some

https://twitter.com/ausbt/status/105028 ... 65824?s=21

It's the least it can do for such a hellacious flight. I have flown SQ twice in J and never received PJs on either of those flights as well, so I guess it's its norm. No PJs in J is an automatic black mark against for me.

WPvsMW · Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:46 pm

teme82 wrote:
I wonder why that type of routing... GCM gives direct route over Russia and the north pole...

Russian transit fees are one factor.

Bricktop · Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:02 pm

ltbewr wrote:
A number of flights on northern approach to EWR (about 10 miles away) pass over or near my home. Too bad it is a bit too early and dark for me to look out for. I recall seeing the previous flights fly over. I am very glad that this is returning to the historic airport EWR is. I bet the big PANYNJ, NJ and NY State officials will be there to greet it as this flight is big news.
What terminal and gate will this flight use at EWR upon arrival and departure ?

I would expect it's Terminal B. No idea as to gate.

dmstorm22 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 8:44 pm

As EWR was my home airport, I always loved the fact the world's longest flight had one home in EWR. It pained me when SQ finally gave in and cancelled the old SQ21/22 back in 2013.

So happy to see it back. Will by flying it in November in PE. Really can't wait to do so.

Congrats to SQ; and after years of the 'world's longest flight' title being hot-potatoed from QF to EK to QR, it will hold it until if/when LHR-SYD gets going.

voxkel · Thu Oct 11, 2018 9:05 pm

05:05 down, 11:26 to go, per FR24. Wow, they must be using the jet stream to the full power. 16h30min would be amazing for SIN-EWR; AKL-DOH is routinely longer than this by time.

lesfalls · Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:23 pm

airbazar wrote:
StTim wrote:
I wonder if they will be conservative with loads initially. As far as I can tell the ULR has never flown this distance even in test.

Yes I know they have lots of tests and can extrapolate for the ULR’s on known A350 performance but still interesting.

I expect it to be quite the opposite. SQ and Airbus will want to take full advantage of the marketing potential. There will be media and other guests onboard. The last thing they want is to show empty seats.

I can confirm that the PA didn't permit press to attend the inaugural event of SQ at EWR. Only traveling media were permitted to participate. Quite a pity considering how historic this flight is.

tomcat · Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:30 pm

Even better now: 06:26 down, 09:56 to go, ETA 4:22 AM and there's probably not too much air trafic over NYC this early in the morning. It currently shows a ground speed of 575 kts, flying at 37000 ft. Wonder how they will deal with the wind on the return flight, this might challenge the aircraft a bit more.

Max Q · Thu Oct 11, 2018 10:45 pm

tomcat wrote:
Even better now: 06:26 down, 09:56 to go, ETA 4:22 AM and there's probably not too much air trafic over NYC this early in the morning. It currently shows a ground speed of 575 kts, flying at 37000 ft. Wonder how they will deal with the wind on the return flight, this might challenge the aircraft a bit more.

They may just continue ‘eastbound’
as they did occasionally with the A345

All depends on the winds

SonomaFlyer · Thu Oct 11, 2018 11:12 pm

This time of year, they will go East on the EWR to SIN leg. If there is a favorable jet stream to be surfed, SQ will ride it. Otherwise, they will use a polar route in the May-Aug or Sept time period.

STT757 · Thu Oct 11, 2018 11:51 pm

ltbewr wrote:
A number of flights on northern approach to EWR (about 10 miles away) pass over or near my home. Too bad it is a bit too early and dark for me to look out for. I recall seeing the previous flights fly over. I am very glad that this is returning to the historic airport EWR is. I bet the big PANYNJ, NJ and NY State officials will be there to greet it as this flight is big news.
What terminal and gate will this flight use at EWR upon arrival and departure ?

This month EWR is celebrating it's 90th birthday, the NY region's oldest airport. It would have been nice to combine the celebrations for these two events.

ltbewr · Fri Oct 12, 2018 1:55 am

STT757 wrote:
ltbewr wrote:
A number of flights on northern approach to EWR (about 10 miles away) pass over or near my home. Too bad it is a bit too early and dark for me to look out for. I recall seeing the previous flights fly over. I am very glad that this is returning to the historic airport EWR is. I bet the big PANYNJ, NJ and NY State officials will be there to greet it as this flight is big news.
What terminal and gate will this flight use at EWR upon arrival and departure ?

This month EWR is celebrating it's 90th birthday, the NY region's oldest airport. It would have been nice to combine the celebrations for these two events.

On Wednesday, a ceremonial 'groundbreaking' was held on the beginning of the eventual replacement of Terminal A which is likely part of the 90th celebration.

If you want to see some of the history of the EWR, you can visit the 'original' purpose built terminal of EWR. It is part of the current Administration building, it is an 'art deco' marvel inside and out. It was also moved like 1/2 mile from its original location, one of the largest such structural moves at that time to expand runways and taxiways. The original terminal also had one of the first control towers and was used until the 'North Terminal' was built in the 1950's (used in part until the latter 1980's and torn down in the late 80's/early 90's)

Planeflyer · Fri Oct 12, 2018 4:17 am

Great work by SQ and AB. Flew the route a few times the 345. What a beauty!

Will definitely fly it again once they start Lax.

Max Q · Fri Oct 12, 2018 4:24 am

SonomaFlyer wrote:
This time of year, they will go East on the EWR to SIN leg. If there is a favorable jet stream to be surfed, SQ will ride it. Otherwise, they will use a polar route in the May-Aug or Sept time period.

It’s still epically impressive to me
you can fly half way around the world
non stop then choose to ‘turn left or
right’ to return

Amazing

Bruce · Fri Oct 12, 2018 7:59 am

All the news media is reporting this is an 18+ or 19 hour flight but the actual flight time is way less. In fact, at 17:10 currently, there are probably a half dozen flights that are a little bit longer than this! Tomorrow's SQ22 is only planned at 18:05. The return flight is showing 16:44.

So if tomorrow's flight of SQ22 really is 18:05, would that make it the longest by duration?

unrave · Fri Oct 12, 2018 8:54 am

Live stream from JFK anticipating arrival of SQ22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XWqL1QQrqE

716131 · Fri Oct 12, 2018 8:55 am

So is the A350ULR has the same cabin as the existing 359?

qf789 · Fri Oct 12, 2018 9:07 am

unrave wrote:
Live stream from JFK anticipating arrival of SQ22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XWqL1QQrqE

You mean EWR

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