SIA to launch non-stop Singapore-LA flight<\/p>\n
Benget Simbolon Tnb, Singapore, The Jakarta Post<\/p>\n
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has unveiled the ultra long-range
\nAirbus 340-500, its newest aircraft type to ply the 16-hour non-
\nstop flight -- the longest service in the world -- from Singapore
\nto Los Angeles in the U.S., starting from next February.<\/p>\n
\"We have named the aircraft the A345Leadership to underscore
\nits unique characteristics and SIA's continued commitment to
\nproduct and service innovation.<\/p>\n
\"With the A340-500, we are offering non-stop services over
\nlong distances, that translate to greater convenience, comfort
\nand time savings. It is especially designed for today's business
\ntravelers,\" said SIA's Senior Executive Vice President, Michael
\nTan in a ceremony to unveil the new aircraft on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
SIA's flight service to Los Angeles will take 16 hours, and
\nreturn service from Los Angeles about 18.5 hours. It will be a
\nsavings of nearly two hours over SIA's current one-stop flights.<\/p>\n
SIA will also offer a non-stop flight service from Singapore
\nto New York in August 2004. The service will take about 18 hours
\nin each direction.<\/p>\n
Currently, the carrier's longest non-stop flight services are
\nfrom Singapore to London and from Hong Kong to San Francisco in
\nthe U.S. both of which take about 13 hours.<\/p>\n
The construction of the A345Leadership by Airbus is nearly
\ncomplete and it is expected to be delivered to SIA by December
\nthis year. The aircraft will have 181 seats in a spacious two-
\nclass configuration comprising Raffles (business) Class and
\nExecutive economy Class.<\/p>\n
The aircraft is part of the SIA's plan to get ten new Airbus
\nplanes. SIA placed an order for 10 A340-500s in 1998 with five on
\nfirm order and five on option. The order was worth at total of
\nUS$2.2 billion, including the cost of spare parts. The A340-500
\nwill be powered by four Rolls Royce Trent 553 engines.<\/p>\n
The A345Leadership will be the first new aircraft type to join
\nthe SIA fleet since 1997, when the carrier took delivery of its
\nfirst Boeing 777.<\/p>\n
SIA's operating fleet comprises 51 B777s and 27 B747s, a total
\nof 78 aircraft.<\/p>\n
Its operating revenue increased by 8.2 percent to US$8.047
\nbillion last year from $7.44 billion in 2001.<\/p>\n
SIA, along with other major carriers in Asia including Hong
\nKong-based Cathay Pacific and Australia's Qantas, was severely
\naffected by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
\n(SARS) during the first half of this year.<\/p>\n
During the peak of the SARS crisis SIA's passenger load factor
\ndropped to around 50 percent, but then rose to more than 70
\npercent after June.<\/p>",
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