Singapore Airlines - Newark to Singapore

[WIDN62]

I notice that SIA 21 from Newark to Singapore frequently routes over Southern UK rather than the shorter route close to the Pole. I see from Airbus.com that the A350-900 is cleared for “ETOPS beyond 180 minutes” with “an option for up to 370 minutes diversion time”.
Is there a reason for this common routeing?
Are there no suitable airfields for diversion (particularly with the weather at this time of year) within the ETOPS parameters? Looking on FR 24 at the moment there are half a dozen or so aircraft on roughly the route that would be used - but they are all Boeing 777s.
Are the winds further south strong enough to compensate for a 700 mile longer flight?
Are Singapore Airlines being cautious whilst they gain operational experience of this type?
Do they have problems with overflights on the Polar route eg, Russia, Mongolia and China?

[PDXCWL45]

I notice that SIA 21 from Newark to Singapore frequently routes over Southern UK rather than the shorter route close to the Pole. I see from Airbus.com that the A350-900 is cleared for “ETOPS beyond 180 minutes” with “an option for up to 370 minutes diversion time”.
Is there a reason for this common routeing?
Are there no suitable airfields for diversion (particularly with the weather at this time of year) within the ETOPS parameters? Looking on FR 24 at the moment there are half a dozen or so aircraft on roughly the route that would be used - but they are all Boeing 777s.
Are the winds further south strong enough to compensate for a 700 mile longer flight?
Are Singapore Airlines being cautious whilst they gain operational experience of this type?
Do they have problems with overflights on the Polar route eg, Russia, Mongolia and China?
The flight has 3 potential routes. Trans Atlantic, Trans Pacific and over the North pole and it depends on the winds on the day which route is chosen.

[Suzeman]

The inaugural EWR-SIN flight did use the Polar Route - maybe for a demo to the VIPs on board?

In addition I seem to recall that the first delivery of the long range A350 to SQ went from TLS and over the Pole

SQ21 now seems to frequently route over Southern England although it has also been seen going eastbound over Glasgow and Edinburgh.

When this flight operated with A345 a few years ago, it frequently oveflew the Manchester area heading eastbound.

All dependent on the upper winds as already posted

You can track the flights using Flight Aware which goes back two weeks. All these flights have used similar routes and passed over S England. Flight durations vary by up to 90 minutes from day to day

https://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/SIA21

Tonight's is again over Southern England looking at the flight plan on the above page.

[Peter47]

I read a thesis a few years ago examining the feasibility of flying LHR - SYD non stop which included some Jeppeson flight plans. The shortest route in each direction varied considerably by season - it could mean overflying HKG or Tokyo. Obviously winds vary day by day ,not just by season, and changes can make quite different routings the most economic. Also, I don't know if it is the case here but overflying rights and costs can result in different routes being taken.