A350 Deliveries and Routes

[SQKevin]

MSN216 will be the first A359ULR and will feature new winglets.

https://leehamnews.com/2017/10/25/ai...harklets-a350/

Fuselage sections for the first A350-900ULR are arriving at Station 59, the 1st station of the FAL.

[9V-SPL]

MSN216 will be the first A359ULR and will feature new winglets.

https://leehamnews.com/2017/10/25/ai...harklets-a350/

[SQfanatic]

Thanks for the pictures and updates SQKevin. Looks great so far.

Wonder when will we see a Star Alliance A359

That's a very good question. I had the same question about this as well, but mostly I've only seen them do so for the Boeing aircraft (744 9V-SPP, which I actually flew on in 2008 on SQ1) and our current 773 and 77W.

IIRC, I thought at one point I saw pics but not real images of Airbus aircraft (like the 380) that had a Star Alliance Livery. Let's keep our hopes up.

[9V-SPL]

Wonder when will we see a Star Alliance A359

[SQKevin]

9V-SMT (#20) being towed to cabin fit earlier this month.


Picture source: a380.boards.net

[SQKevin]

9V-SMS (#19) completed her First Flight yesterday, just 10 days after rolling out onto the Flight Line. I can't recall another SQ frame completing her First Flight so soon after Roll Out. SMS is also the first SQ A359 frame without the SQ logo on the tail before painting. Talk is that she will be flown to XFW to be painted, also a first for a SQ frame. At the rate she is moving along the production line, 9V-SMS could be delivered at the end of November. 9V-SMT (#20) is expected to be rolled out onto the Flight Line sometime next month.




Picture source: a380.boards.net

[SQ228]

9V-SMT went into cabin fit yesterday. There is now a possibility that both SMS & SMT will roll out onto Flight Line before the end of November. Depending on the pace of pre-flight and flight testing, SMS could be delivered at the end of December and SMT in mid-January. Let's wait and see.

That timeline would match SQ's schedule for BNE roll outs.

[SQKevin]

SQ #19 9V-SMS is at the flightline in TLS, awaiting her first flight.

Yes, rolled out yesterday. Cabin fitting & engine installation took just 4-5 weeks. That a record going by earlier frames. This means that 9V-SMS will definitely be a December Delivery.

If 9V-SMT takes the same amount of time for cabin fitting & engine installation, there will be a good chance of her being delivered by the end of December. This will provide enough aircraft for BNE to go 3 x daily A359 by mid-January 2018.

[TheMightyAsian]

SQ #19 9V-SMS is at the flightline in TLS, awaiting her first flight.

[9V-SKU]

I agree, there were certainly a number of reports that the first 20 350s would be long haul. If SW #22 is definitely going to be the first ULR then I think 21 will be an additional long haul aircraft. I just cannot imagine SQ keeping a single new 350 with a different product for a number of months while the ULR aircraft are delivered.

Another interesting aspect is if SFO will remain with the 900s or the ULR. If it remains with the 900 then an additional long haul 900 would fit with the original SQ plan since SFO direct was not on the cards with the config for the first 20 was planned. If that is the case then, where would the extra ULR capacity go? 1 more daily (Chicago?) or a mix to a number of spots (Boston / Washington / Chicago).

All I know is that next year will be a lot of fun for us!

My money is on Seattle as next and new destination for the ULR.

As per routes online, SIA just expanded their codeshare agreement with JetBlue, including flights between JFK-SEA from Oct. 12 2017.
(http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...from-oct-2017/)

[SQKevin]

9V-SMT went into cabin fit yesterday. There is now a possibility that both SMS & SMT will roll out onto Flight Line before the end of November. Depending on the pace of pre-flight and flight testing, SMS could be delivered at the end of December and SMT in mid-January. Let's wait and see.

[SQ228]

There’s talk about KIX switching one flight daily from A333 to A359 from nov 2017. It’s certainly an improvement over the A333!

I don't see where they would source that A359 from because both KIX flights are out of SIN overnight and BNE is getting all the new arrivals. It would also be a capacity downgrade for KIX.

I think somebody has their wires crossed and is spreading the wrong information. KIX is going A380 on SQ618/9 for a more substantial period than usual. Often it gets sporadic use of the A380 during peak times in Japan, but this is effective 26NOV until at least 17DEC (end of timetable validity), excl. 30NOV, 14DEC.

[SQfanatic]

There’s talk about KIX switching one flight daily from A333 to A359 from nov 2017. It’s certainly an improvement over the A333!

That might explain more A333 departures and the 359s replacing them. Definitely an improvement at any rate.

[SQfanatic]

believed the current A350-900 can do SIN-SFO with minimal payoad restrictions. Its only the return flight that the need for quite some weight restrictions due to strong headwinds.

You are right. It's the return flight, hence why they would still reduce the weight in both directions. This is why when the ULR comes, SFO will be one of the few to use it, along with other US routes.

Also, my father got back on the 350 today morning. Load-wise, typical of what you expect off-peak, light loading, he had two seats to himself (aisle and middle). It was the same when he also went. The DEL sectors were at least 90% full. Otherwise, flying the 350 was inconvenient for my father, he did not enjoy it much like the 77W; it was cramped in Y, same as my mother noted, but service and food were great. (SMJ on SQ31, SMP on SQ32)

[Tonitan]

There’s talk about KIX switching one flight daily from A333 to A359 from nov 2017. It’s certainly an improvement over the A333!