Wirraway
17th Oct 2003, 00:04
Fri "The Australian"
Singapore in for long haul
By Steve Creedy
October 17, 2003
SINGAPORE Airlines will try to convince Perth passengers bound for the US to give travel via Sydney the flick after launching the world's longest scheduled commercial flight.
The airline will use specially configured long-range Airbus A340-500 planes to service marathon non-stop routes between Singapore and the US, with the flights taking between 16 and 18 1/2 hours.
The airline is launching a 15,000km route to Los Angeles in December and will add a longer Singapore-New York route about six months later.
It will ease the pain for economy travellers on the two-class aircraft with seats that are wider and have 13cm more legroom. The 117 economy seats will have the bigger screens normally reserved for business class, as well as laptop power supplies.
The aircraft has 68 lie-flat sleeper seats in business class, and both classes have access to the airline's on-demand video and audio system, which allows passengers to pause, fast forward and rewind movies.
Spokesman Stephen Forshaw said a fifth of the carrier's Perth customers already used its US services and the new flights were aimed particularly at business travellers. The route made the trip via Singapore about two hours longer than via Sydney, but it had the advantage of international service all the way.
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Fri "Sydney Morning Herald"
Singapore waits patiently
October 17, 2003
Singapore Airlines is likely to use its upcoming state-of-the-art Airbus 380 aircraft to compete on the lucrative Sydney to Los Angeles route once barriers are cleared for its entry.
The airline received a setback recently when the Australian and Singaporean governments effectively agreed to prevent it from flying across the Pacific from Australia until greater stability existed in the aviation industry.
Singapore executive vice president, commercial, Michael Tan, said he was "very confident" the open skies agreement would go ahead. "I personally believe it is a matter of time. It could be next year or the year after, I'm not sure."
Singapore will be the first to launch the new Airbus 380 aircraft in early 2006, with 10 on their way and the option for another 15.
The A380 will carry more than 500 passengers and could provide Singapore with a competitive advantage against Qantas's ageing fleet if it enters the Sydney-Los Angeles route.
The airline has launched the world's longest non-stop commercial flight on its ultra-long-range Airbus 345 services from Singapore to LA and New York.
AAP
============================================
Singapore in for long haul
By Steve Creedy
October 17, 2003
SINGAPORE Airlines will try to convince Perth passengers bound for the US to give travel via Sydney the flick after launching the world's longest scheduled commercial flight.
The airline will use specially configured long-range Airbus A340-500 planes to service marathon non-stop routes between Singapore and the US, with the flights taking between 16 and 18 1/2 hours.
The airline is launching a 15,000km route to Los Angeles in December and will add a longer Singapore-New York route about six months later.
It will ease the pain for economy travellers on the two-class aircraft with seats that are wider and have 13cm more legroom. The 117 economy seats will have the bigger screens normally reserved for business class, as well as laptop power supplies.
The aircraft has 68 lie-flat sleeper seats in business class, and both classes have access to the airline's on-demand video and audio system, which allows passengers to pause, fast forward and rewind movies.
Spokesman Stephen Forshaw said a fifth of the carrier's Perth customers already used its US services and the new flights were aimed particularly at business travellers. The route made the trip via Singapore about two hours longer than via Sydney, but it had the advantage of international service all the way.
==========================================
Fri "Sydney Morning Herald"
Singapore waits patiently
October 17, 2003
Singapore Airlines is likely to use its upcoming state-of-the-art Airbus 380 aircraft to compete on the lucrative Sydney to Los Angeles route once barriers are cleared for its entry.
The airline received a setback recently when the Australian and Singaporean governments effectively agreed to prevent it from flying across the Pacific from Australia until greater stability existed in the aviation industry.
Singapore executive vice president, commercial, Michael Tan, said he was "very confident" the open skies agreement would go ahead. "I personally believe it is a matter of time. It could be next year or the year after, I'm not sure."
Singapore will be the first to launch the new Airbus 380 aircraft in early 2006, with 10 on their way and the option for another 15.
The A380 will carry more than 500 passengers and could provide Singapore with a competitive advantage against Qantas's ageing fleet if it enters the Sydney-Los Angeles route.
The airline has launched the world's longest non-stop commercial flight on its ultra-long-range Airbus 345 services from Singapore to LA and New York.
AAP
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