Skift Take

Singapore Airlines already boasts one of the world’s most exclusive passenger planes. After six years of development, it’s about to take things to a whole new level.

Singapore Airlines is betting big on the continued popularity of premium travel. On Monday, the airline announced an SG$1.1 billion ($835 million) project to overhaul a huge chunk of its long-haul fleet.

The focus of the program is the Airbus A350-900. The widebody plane operates a variety of routes for the carrier, from regional intercity hops to those covering record-breaking distances.

A total of 41 jets are involved, including seven A350-900ULRs. These specially modified ‘Ultra Long Range’ planes operate flagship routes from Singapore to the United States, including the world’s longest flight to and from New York.

With journey times of up to 19 hours, Singapore Airlines had already done away with economy class cabins on the ULRs. This enhances passenger comfort but also reduces the overall weight of the plane - a key consideration when covering such large distances.

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