Airbus has delivered the first A350-900ULR to launch customer Singapore Airlines. The A350 XWB Family is designed for new ultra-long-range operations, including on the world’s longest commercial route – between Singapore and New York.

Airlines already use the A350-900 and A350-1000 primarily for long-distance flights, but there is growing demand for non-stop services on extreme long-haul services, leading Airbus to develop the new variant.

The A350-900ULR – derived from the A350-900 – has an extended range of up to 9,700 nautical miles.

This was achieved by integrating a modified fuel system, which increases the aircraft’s fuel carrying capacity by 24,000 litres without the need for additional fuel tanks. This involved the relocation of sensors in the fuel system.

The A350-900 ULR has a maximum take-off weight of 280 tonnes and is capable of flying over 20 hours non-stop.

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