Sneak Peek of Singapore Airlines' First Airbus A350 XWB

Photo: Joyce Fang The flag carrier's highly anticipated first A350-900 aircraft, Registration 9V-SMA, is scheduled to join the airline's fleet in January 2016, the airline announced on Monday.

"Singapore Airlines expects to take delivery of the first new plane in January next year with services scheduled to begin in April 2016," said Mr Tan Pee Teck, senior vice president for Product and Services.

Singapore Airlines' first A350 XWB/Photo by www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl On Monday, the 9V-SMA in full livery made a debut in Airbus paint shop in Toulouse, France. According to the European plane manufacturer, the paintjob will be completed until Tuesday, followed by closing spraying. After completing the paintjob, the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines will be installed, with the installation of the Interior later.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines said that Amsterdam will be the inaugural destination for its first A350 fleet, with services expected to begin by April 2016.

Photo: Joyce Fang

Upon the first A350 delivery scheduled in January, the aircraft will then be operated on selected flights to Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur for crew training and familiarization purposes before beginning service to Amsterdam.

Additional A350 destinations are to be announced in the coming months.

Singapore Airlines has 63 firm orders and has the option to buy 20 additional A350s if required. A total of 11 A350-900s are expected in the first year of operation.

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